Houston County students returned to school last week and found more than new teachers and classmates.
The system started rolling out projects this summer that are being funded by the 2012 penny sales tax.
A few projects are finished and many more are in the works.
Chemistry labs in Jamie Moore's Northside High School class just became a little more engaging.
Her classroom received a new smart board, while dozens of others at Northside High earned another perk.
New heating and air systems were just installed at the school.
Facilities Director Jason Daniel said, "We selected schools that had air conditioning over 20 years old, in that range. Some units 25 or 26 years old, still working but not very efficient."
Daniel said they are now installing the HVAC systems in 5 schools with many more to follow, and that's just the beginning of their plans for spending SPLOST dollars.
Houston County Schools will start installing additional security cameras on every campus this fall. They will be a little smaller and more discreet than some of the cameras already located in schools.
Daniel said the additional cameras will bring an added layer of security.He said, "Now, we're concentrating on areas where principals say it would be nice if we had cameras here, because this has happened in the past."
Most schools will also get secure vestibules at their main entrance, like the one that is already in place at Northside High.
Showing Northside's vestibule, Daniel said, "You'll see the front doors are always open for visitors and students, but as you come through the building, you'll come to another set of doors that will be locked."
The locked entry doors force visitors to come into the main office to check-in, before they can enter the main building.
Principal Greg Peavy said those features, plus a program installed in all schools that tracks students attendance, behavior and grades, got the year off to a good start. The new program is called Infinite Campus, and can be accessed on-line from computers or mobile devices.
Peavy said, "It's combined many systems into one. It's easier for us as educators."
Daniel says they also demolished the old CB Watson school on South Davis Drive this summer.
It will be replaced with a new primary school, that's set to open next fall.
The 2012 SPLOST is expected to raised $125 million dollars during the next five years.