News for North Texas
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

After Plant Explosion, West Breaks Ground On New Schools

West ISD/Huckabee
West ISD plans to build a new campus to replace middle and high schools leveled in April 2013.

West, the Central Texas town devastated by last year's fertilizer plant explosion that killed 15 people, will be getting two new schools.

Groundbreaking ceremonies were held Thursday in West for construction of a new campus to replace middle and high schools 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.

Interim Superintendent Jan Hungate on Thursday called it a "new beginning."

The schools are expected to be completed in 2016.

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

Learn more about the rebuilding efforts.