After two and a half years, construction and seismic repairs, Gruening Middle School in Eagle River opened to students and the community. (Robert DeBerry/ ASD)
Gruening Middle School Principal Bobby Jefts talks to the crowd gathered for a ribbon cutting Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021. (Robert DeBerry/ASD)
An attending member of the community snaps a photograph of the outside of Gruening Middle School before the ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021. (Robert DeBerry/ASD)
Anchorage School District Superintendent Dr. Deena Bishop speaks to the crowd gathered at Thursday's ribbon cutting for Gruening Middle School. The school was damaged during the November 2018 earthquake and students have been attending Chugiak High School for classes for the past two and a half years. (Robert DeBerry/ASD)
Gruening Middle School Assistant Principal Kelly Parsons along with Principal Bobby Jefts and several students cut the ribbon during Thursday's ceremony at Gruening Middle School. (Robert DeBerry/ASD)
Community members, parents and students walk through the hallway of Gruening Middle School after a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021. The school has been closed and under construction for reparis after the November 2018 earthquake made it unsafe. (Robert DeBerry/ASD)
Gruening Middle School opened its doors to community members for a tour after Thursday's ribbon cutting. Total cost of the project is $39.3 million and includes some seismic upgrades. (Robert DeBerry/ASD)
One of the improvements to Gruening Middle School is better lighting in the hallways and classrooms. A combination of more widows and LED lighting along with lighter colors have helped achieve that goal.
A parent walks through the art room at Gruening Middle School and looks at art on a table during Thursday's ribbon cutting and community open house. (Robert DeBerry/ASD)
Gruening Middle School teacher Catherine Mannix talks to parents and students during Thursday's community ribbon cutting and tour. Gruening reopened to students after two and a half years of closure. (Robert DeBerry/ASD)
A student shows her locker during Thursday's ribbon cutting ceremony and school tour at Gruening Middle School. (Robert DeBerry/ASD)
Gruening is home to about 600 seventh and eighth grade students who attended classes at Chugiak High School while their school was being repaired. (Robert DeBerry/ASD)
