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After five years, West ISD is completely rebuilt

WEST — On April 17, 2013, the fertilizer plant near West, Texas exploded. The blast tore across the city, and the aftermath could be felt across the state. Now five years later, West ISD has been rebuilt. Sunday the community toured the school districts restored administration building, the last building that had needed repairs.

"This is really the capstone, it's the administration building." West ISD Board President Larry Sparks said. "It's a big burden off our shoulders and now we are really looking towards the future".

Sunday, the school district said goodbye to it's last portable building and staff prepared to once again work in West ISD's iconic administration building. The two story building had lost widows, doors, and parts of the roof to the blast, but like the West community, what was underneath was too strong to fall.

"Building technology in 1923 wasn't all that sophisticated," Pre-Construction Manager Scott Stites said. "You just throw a lot of brick and steel and concrete at it, and it's going to stand up."

It was that same brick and steel that kept the building up after the blast. In the new design, many of the same walls were left exposed instead of being repainted as a symbol of the buildings strength.

The building also had a hall devoted to West memorabilia where locals can find old West ISD yearbooks, course catalogs, sports souvenirs, and even a time capsule.

"I triggers old memories," West ISD Board Secretary Leigh Crawshaw said. "It means a lot to have that stuff that's important to us to carry on that history."

For West ISD staff, it's a testament to their resilience, and the beginning of a new normal.

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