Groundbreaking to Replace Schools Destroyed By West Fertilizer Plant Explosion

Update:

A year and a half ago, the fertilizer plant explosion in West took out the town’s middle and high schools.

Thursday morning was the groundbreaking of the new $50 million dollar campus.

Among those in attendance were Congressman Bill Flores of Bryan and State Representative Kyle Kacal of rural Brazos County, whose district includes West.

Kacal says the freshman and sophomore student speakers shared their excitement about being the first to graduate in the new building, which is scheduled to open in the fall of 2016.

Kacal says the city’s second replacement water well is online and bids went out last week on replacing streets.

And Kacal says during next year’s legislative session, Ash Wednesday has been designated West Day; complete with kolaches and Czech heritage dancing in the Capitol rotunda.

Click below for comments from Kyle Kacal, visiting with WTAW’s Bill Oliver.

 

Original story:

WEST, Texas (AP) _ A Central Texas town devastated by a 2013 fertilizer plant explosion that killed 15 people will be getting two new schools.

Groundbreaking ceremonies are planned Thursday in West to replace middle and high schools that were leveled in the April 2013 accident.

The West Independent School District announced the groundbreaking for the $50 million project as part of continuing recovery efforts. Insurance money and government funds are helping paying for the schools.

More than 260 people were injured in the explosion at West Fertilizer Co.

Montage of pictures from groundbreaking from Congressman Bill Flores Twitter feed @RepBillFlores
Montage of pictures from groundbreaking from Congressman Bill Flores Twitter feed @RepBillFlores
Architect's rendering of the new West High School and Middle School from westisd.net
Architect’s rendering of the new West High School and Middle School from westisd.net

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