Add as a preferred source on Google

Uvalde Mayor Says Robb Elementary School to Be Demolished

  • By Matt Jones
  • 07/05/22

Mayor Don McLaughlin announced during a Uvalde Council meeting on Tuesday, June 21, that Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, will be demolished in the wake of the shooting that killed 19 students and two teachers, according to national news.

“My understanding—and I had this discussion with the superintendent—is that the school will be demolished,” he said. “You can never ask a child to go back or a teacher to go back in that school, ever.” No further details on the timeline of the demolition were available.

Texas-based grocery store chain H-E-B and its owners, the Butt family, announced that they are committing $10 million toward the construction of a replacement facility. The donations were made to the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Moving Forward Foundation, Uvalde CISD’s new nonprofit arm.

The Texas Tribune reports that the district will hold open community meetings so that students and families can provide input on the new school’s design. The district is partnering with Fort Worth-based architecture firm Huckabee and San Antonio-based construction company Joeris on the new facility, and both companies will provide their services free of charge. The donation from the Butt family and H-E-B will go toward construction and planning materials.

“Our first store in Uvalde opened in 1959, and Uvalde people are our people,” said Charles Butt in a statement. “As we continue to mourn tremendous loss, I join with my family and H-E-B in working to ensure the Uvalde community can move forward from this tragic event. Our children are this country’s future, and our schools should be a safe place where children can thrive and envision new possibilities.”

The school district has also announced its plans for the coming school year. Robb Elementary School students will be relocated to two other schools within the district. Most students will relocate to Flores Elementary, home to most of the district’s fifth- and sixth-graders. Students entering second grade this fall will attend Dalton Elementary, home to students in pre-K through first grade.

“I’m just immensely grateful,” said Hal Harrell, Uvalde CISD superintendent. “Humanity showed up in a great big way…Our kids are our future, and the best foot forward is a great education. And I truly believe that this new building will go a long way in manifesting that for our students here in Uvalde.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • textured paper collage shows a school building on fire as a fire truck sprays water into the flames

    Why a Fire Loss Is More than Flames

    We've all seen what fire damage can do to a property, but the types of damage building owners often encounter after a fire loss can exceed expectations. Having full awareness of the different forms of damage properties can sustain helps owners respond faster, reduce continued damage, and get back on the road to recovery in short order.

  • Texas District Finishes Construction on New Middle School, Admin Building

    The Westwood Independent School District recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Westwood Middle School and Administration Building in Palestine, Texas, according to a news release. The campus covers 106,000 square feet and has the capacity for 650 students in grades 6–8, and it will also play home to the district’s staff and administration.

  • Image credit: O

    Strategic Campus Assessment: Moving Beyond Reactive Maintenance in Educational Facilities

    While campuses may appear stable on the surface, building systems naturally evolve over time, and proactive assessment can identify developing issues before they become expensive emergencies. The question isn't whether aging educational facilities need attention. It's how institutions can transition from costly reactive maintenance to strategic asset management in a way that protects both budgets and communities.

  • California K–12 District Opens New Athletic Complex, Gym

    The San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) in San Mateo, Calif., recently announced the completion of two new athletics facilities: a new gymnasium at Burlingame High School, and a new athletic training complex at San Mateo High School, according to a news release.

Digital Edition