UVALDE, Texas — A Uvalde-area foundation wants to start construction on a new elementary school next month and held their milestone groundbreaking event for the school on Saturday.
For parents that lost children in the Robb Elementary shooting in May of last year, the event hurt and provided hope in equal measure.
The new $60 million campus would have safety features that go above and beyond any state requirements. It will have 9-foot-tall privacy gates, keyless entry points and a specific road that would create an easier access point for first responders. It would also have an air-conditioned gym, and two playgrounds – including one for children with special needs.
The Uvalde Moving Forward Foundation, a nonprofit which has led planning and fundraising efforts for the new school, is still working to sign on a contractor to build the school but was able to get $10 million in funding from H-E-B, and the Butt family and around $35 million in additional funding. The nonprofit is still looking for around $15 million.
Tim Miller, the Executive Director of the foundation, said they've received input from Uvalde families, including those that lost children.
"We hope that this school will be, will continue to be, a symbol of hope and resilience in moving forward from the tragedy that happened last year," Miller said.
Still, parents told KENS 5 the experience can't be any more than bittersweet with the pain they still deal with on a daily basis.
"Me and my family, we just take it one day at a time. As much as you have the positive you have the negative," Jerry Mata said. "None of this would be here if it wasn't for the kids (that were shot) and the two teachers. It's hard. Our pain is still there."
Mata lost his daughter, Tess Marie Mata, in the shooting. Like other parents and family members, he struggles to balance the knowledge that the new campus will help Uvalde students with the understanding that it's only happening because of the tragedy. Mata said the new campus will help insure that those kids are remembered but emotions were high during the event.
"Something like this helps you get through it a little bit... Knowing that you will have this in remembrance of your daughter and the kids and the two teachers for the rest of your life," Mata said.
Ana Coronado, who lost her daughter Maite Rodriguez in the shooting, felt the same way.
"It's extremely difficult. It's very emotional. It's a great thing for the community but it's sad that my daughter is not here. She won't be able to enjoy this school, walk the halls, and get excited about the school," Rodriguez said. "But she is a part of why this school was built and she will be a part of helping other students in their education as well."
UCISD Community Advisory Committee Co-Chair Natalie Arias said it was important to make sure any decisions made with the new school respects those families wishes and doesn't create more harm. Arias said the school can still be a positive step in a community dealing with tragedy.
"The best part of this is that our community is able to taste something beautiful and progressive that we haven't been able to," Arias said. "The sad part is what had to happen to bring us here. I'm hopeful that our community will see how deserving our kids are of this."
The Uvalde CISD school will create a committee that includes teachers and parents to recommend a name for the new school.
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