Monday was the first day of classes for Aiken County schools. There are some improvements across the district, including a brand new home for one of its oldest schools, Byrd Elementary.

The new school is larger and safer, but there is one small feature that some students said just cannot seem to compare to the old one built 50 years ago.

“It has a small playground,” said second grader, Kirsten Geter.

Geter’s classmate also remembered the playground as one of their favorite features of the old Byrd Elementary School.

“It had a bigger playground,” said Chandler Mayson.

Even her teacher remembers.

“Oh, our big playground on the hill,” said Susan Spears, second grade teacher.

The playground may have gotten a little smaller, but just about everything else got bigger and better. The school is about 90,000 square feet.

“I said whoa because it was so big,” Mayson said about his first day seeing the school.

“We've added three additional classrooms,” said Principal Eddie Watkins.

In addition to the new classrooms, the school also has new music and art rooms.

Spears, who has taught at Byrd for 25 years and who herself went to the school, says the changes will keep everyone safer.

“In the old school we had very little security and in this one we're all in one building. The doors lock and we can keep everyone in and out,” she said.

And as for that small playground, Watkins says he has taken notice and that the equipment for it will be installed throughout the year. He thinks of it as a sort of gift to his students.

“We will be like Santa Claus coming different times of the year, may not have to wait until Christmas,” said Watkins.

The school increased their enrollment by about 30 students this year. But they anticipate a much larger increase. Two new subdivisions are now under construction in the area.