BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Students starting school at East High have been greeted by a newly made over campus.

"I like it," said student Shaquille Massey. "Yeah, I like it," said student Merriam Leal.

Not only does the school have a fresh coat of paint, but a new Career Technical Education facility, math building, 18 classrooms, and a softball field and basketball courts are coming soon. All thanks to $20 million in state school modernization funding, which allowed for construction to begin last year.

"The vision was to be able to offer our students a nice facility and help prepare them to enter into the work force with skills," said assistant principal Pam Crain.

The Career Technical Education facility boasts a state of the art wood shop, metal shop and drafting room with computer lab.

"Having hands on experience with industry quality equipment will make them readily employable should they enter the work force right out of high school," said Crain.

The 62-year-old school has also been updated with handicap accessible features throughout the campus, along with a new special mobility classroom for the severely disabled.

Students say it actually feels more spacious. "I think it's better because we're in a new building and everybody's not so squished like back then," said Leal.