Introduction to Legacy Elementary
Nearly three and a half years after the tragic shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, a new school has been built to replace the site of the shooting. The new school, Legacy Elementary, is set to welcome students on October 20. Before the students arrive, the community came together for a public ceremony to introduce the school. Families of the victims were given a private tour earlier in the week, and some survivors and families also attended the public event.
Design and Security Features
Legacy Elementary is designed to be a safe and secure learning environment. The school features bullet-resistant windows, key card access to classrooms, and door prop alarms to prevent unauthorized entry. The classrooms have multiple windows that provide a clear view of the surrounding area, making it difficult for anyone to hide or cause harm. The school’s design also includes a trauma-informed approach, with calm rooms in the special education wing to help students cope with stress and anxiety.
Tribute to the Victims
At the center of the school is a courtyard featuring a steel tree memorial with 19 smaller branches and two larger branches, representing the 19 students and two teachers who lost their lives in the shooting. The tree is a beautiful tribute to the victims, and the community is working to add the names of the victims to the tree. The executive director of the Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation, Tim Miller, said that the foundation raised $60 million to build the school, and they are committed to making sure that the victims are never forgotten.
Community Reaction
Javier Cazares, who lost his nine-year-old daughter Jackie in the shooting, attended the public ceremony and was emotional as he looked at the tree memorial. He said that the symbolism of the tree is beautiful, but they want to make sure that the names of the victims are added to the tree to remember who they were. Cazares’ brother-in-law, Jesse Rizo, is now a member of the school board and said that they plan to add the names to the tree, but they are still deciding on the best way to do it.
New Beginning for Students
The students who will be attending Legacy Elementary are excited to start at their new school. Some of the students who will be attending the school were enrolled at Robb Elementary at the time of the shooting and were given the chance to give tours of the school. Instead, they opted to help break in the new playground, letting laughter and chatter fill the space for the first time. Uvalde CISD Board President Laura Perez hopes that the new school will be filled with the laughter of children and will be a new beginning for the 600 third, fourth, and fifth graders starting school at Legacy.
Conclusion
Legacy Elementary is a beautiful school that is designed to provide a safe and secure learning environment for its students. The school’s tribute to the victims of the Robb Elementary shooting is a powerful reminder of the tragedy that occurred, and the community is committed to making sure that the victims are never forgotten. While the school is a new beginning for the students, it is also a reminder that the community is still healing from the tragedy. As Perez said, "We’ll never forget," and the school will serve as a reminder of the importance of safety, security, and community.
