Uvalde celebrates new school project years after shooting

The Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District on Saturday celebrated a milestone in the construction of a school to replace Robb Elementary School. The district launched a campaign to replace the building after an 18-year-old shooter in May 2022 killed 19 children and two teachers at the school. Construction began in March on the new building and district officials say it will include security enhancements, two playgrounds, and upgraded classrooms. The school board last month unanimously decided to name the new school Legacy Elementary School. The new school building is slated to open in Fall 2025. The school district held a topping out ceremony on Saturday.

What is a topping out ceremony? The celebration is held when the final beam of a building is put in place, according to a press release from the school district. It symbolizes the completion of the structural phase of a project.

How much will the building cost? Legacy Elementary is expected to cost $60 million, according to the Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation. The foundation has raised $50 million through charitable donations and state funds.

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s report in The Sift about shooting victims’ families settling with the city.