By JEFF BRANSCOME

VIDEO: Take a virtual tour inside the new JM

Fire alarms squealed yesterday as James Monroe High School sophomores began an hourlong tour of their new school.

"The fire alarm system has been activated," a recorded voice repeatedly stated over the loudspeaker.

But the Fredericksburg school's Principal Daryl Chesley later told students not to be "alarmed"--no pun intended.

As part of an inspection of the school, workers had to test each of the 198,000-square-foot building's smoke alarms.

"The city inspectors have been wonderful," said Bob Burch, director of operations. "They're working overtime now."

The 60-plus students and parents in the cafeteria seemed to ignore the racket as they chatted in several groups.

Earlier in the week, school officials gave tours to juniors and seniors. Freshman will see the inside of the new $36.8 million school for the first time at noon today.

At the start of the tour, Chesley briefed visitors in the 1,000-seat auditorium, while drills buzzed in the background.

He pointed to the ceiling's acoustical clouds--which reduce echoes--and the "theatrical-grade" lighting and sound system.

The surface of the stage is made from black masonite, which is used in some of the world's finest theaters, he said.

At the end of the quick introduction, Chesley noted that the school will open on time.

"We hope," Burch added. "And if not, please come visit me at my new job at Carl's."

Students then branched off into four groups, with Burch, Chesley, and two assistant principals acting as the guides.

"As you're going through, picture the old James Monroe," Burch said.

He first took the students to the 1,800-seat gymnasium, where even the duct work is painted in the school's colors: black and orange.

"For pep rallies, it's gonna be so much better," sophomore Jacob Kroko, 15, said. "You won't be sitting on each other and stuff."

The gym boasts eight basketball goals, as well as pennants and signs advertising the school's sports and championship-winning teams.

As the group walked through the 16-foot wide hallways, Burch rattled off the number of lockers, computer labs and stairwells in the school. But only one statistic seemed to interest the students--the facility's 62 cameras.

Sitting in a lecture hall with tiered seating, one teenager asked Burch if the room had cameras.