A fire destroyed the building in February 2022. The building did not have a sprinkler system then because of the era it was built in, according to Katie Richard, the school board member for Richmonds second district. It does now.

I think we really learned a lot about making sure our systems are up to date and that things are current, Richard said. I think it also has shown us that we need to invest in our school buildings and that is not happening. Its still not happening and I think that is something that we really need to ask our local and state governments to do.

The once charred and shuttered building now has colorful walls and cabinets, a dedicated space for reading and group seating in the cafeteria.

People waited in a line that wrapped around the building to get a glimpse.

It lo

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