Uvalde, TX — Nearly three and a half years after the tragic shooting at Robb Elementary, a new school built to replace the site is complete and ready to welcome students. Legacy Elementary is set to open its doors on October 20, offering a fresh start for the community still reeling from the devastating loss of 19 students and two teachers in May 2022.
Before students move in, a public ceremony was held on Friday to introduce the new school to the community. The families of the victims were given a private tour earlier in the week, and some survivors and victim families attended the public event.
A School of Security and Memorial
Legacy Elementary is designed to be a safe and secure space for students, with numerous security features intended to protect the children. According to Tim Miller, executive director of the Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation, which led the fundraising efforts, the school includes bullet-resistant windows and key card access to classrooms.
“There are many design components for the building that makes it very, very, very difficult for one to do anybody any harm if they were to get into the building. And windows are definitely part of that,” Miller said.
At the heart of the school stands a memorial tree in the central courtyard. The tree has two large branches and 19 smaller branches, representing the two teachers and 19 students who lost their lives in the shooting.
“There was a little girl in a dress (on the second floor next to the tree), and it just reminded me of my daughter,” said Javier Cazares, who lost his nine-year-old daughter, Jackie, in the tragedy. “It’s a great school for these children. Sadly, it took the lives of our children to make this school happen.”
The tree memorial is emotional for the families, and many, including Cazares, have called for the victims’ names to be added to the memorial to ensure they are never forgotten.
“We want to make sure that people can click on something, and they can know about the children that ultimately paid the price for the building to be erected,” said Jesse Rizo, Cazares’ brother-in-law and a member of the school board.
Features Designed With Safety in Mind
Miller detailed the extensive security measures at Legacy Elementary, which include:
- Cameras throughout the building.
- Door prop alarms that sound if exterior doors are left open for too long.
- Key card access to each classroom wing.
- Windows with bullet-resistant film for enhanced security.
Despite the functional nature of these security features, Miller emphasized that the school’s design maintains a bright and welcoming atmosphere.
“When you design a school, whether it’s an elementary, middle or high school, we always want to make sure there’s as much sight lines as possible, so there’s not places people can hide,” Miller explained.
Emotional Ceremony and New Beginnings
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by survivors and families, many of whom were visibly emotional. The students chosen to perform at the ceremony are now at Morales Junior High School, but at the time of the shooting, they were at Robb Elementary.
After the ceremony, some students opted to break in the new playground instead of taking a traditional tour, letting laughter and chatter fill the space for the first time.
“I can’t wait to hear the laughter in the hallways,” said Laura Perez, Uvalde CISD Board President. “We owe it to Irma, to Eva, to the 19 children, right? This is here because of them. So, build beautiful memories, tell the stories, and I can’t wait to hear the laughter in the hallways.”
Perez, a nurse at Uvalde’s hospital, vividly recalled the trauma she witnessed on the day of the shooting.
“It’s been hard for me to speak about it, because it’s not about me. It’s not about me at all,” Perez said. “The survivors… I can’t imagine a kid going through that.”
While the opening of Legacy Elementary marks a new chapter, Perez and others in the community recognize that Uvalde is still healing.
“We’ve moved forward, but we’ll never forget,” Perez said.
Fundraising Efforts and Community Support
The construction of Legacy Elementary was made possible by the Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation, which raised $60 million from businesses, individuals, and the state of Texas. The school stands as a symbol of resilience for the community.
Legacy Elementary represents hope, security, and the future for students, even as Uvalde continues to heal from the tragic events of May 24, 2022.
What are your thoughts on Legacy Elementary and the future of Uvalde students? Share your views in the comments below.
