New Plaza Towers Elementary Taking Shape In Moore

Less than six months after it was destroyed in the May 20 tornado, the first walls of the new Plaza Towers elementary are going up. 

Construction crews have been working at the site since the middle of August, but it wasn't until the last couple days that you could see the school start to take shape.

The first walls to be raised were the forms for a concrete safe room; a sturdy symbol that this community would not be defeated despite all that happened here.

"It's amazing. It's exciting," said Mary Higgins, who used to live in the neighborhood and was driving by to check on the progress of the school on Wednesday.

Less than six months ago, the massive tornado destroyed the school. Seven students were killed.

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"The community at large was insistent at the school going up on the same site," said Jim Fleming, with Moore Public Schools.

A group that includes family members of those lost is working on a permanent memorial at the school. As time passes that will likely be one of the few physical reminders of May 20. The buzz of new construction is everywhere.

"Talk about hopeful, it just warms your heart to see that things are happening," said Flemming.

And by next fall students will be walking the halls of the school again.

"We're going to have kids in those classrooms come August," said Flemming.

The new school will cost around $11 - $12 million to build. A lot of that will be paid for with FEMA funds and insurance money, but the school district will have to come up with the rest.

Construction is also underway for Briarwood elementary, which was also destroyed in the tornado.

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