VIDOR, Texas — Students, teachers and faculty are planning to move into the new Vidor Middle School in May. FEMA granted the Vidor Independent School District 18.6 million dollars to rebuild after the school was destroyed in 2017 during Tropical Storm Harvey.
12News was first to get a look and tour inside the new middle school campus.
According to Vidor Middle School's principal, fifth and sixth graders have been learning in portable classrooms for over six years. The district is excited to get students through the doors of the new campus.
"It's here, it's almost here, and we're excited and it's gonna be wonderful," said Principal Deidre Powell. "The sixth graders have only been in portables, so they are so excited, and the staff is so excited," she said. "So trying to keep them calmed down till May 6th when we start, I keep saying just wait we're almost there."
The new campus is 117,000 square-feet and includes a check-in area made for parents.
"We have the raptor system where parents can come in and they check in," said VISD Community Relations Coordinator Bryan Brassard. "And we scan their IDs and then they can get on campus."
Classrooms are spacious and equipped with smart boards and collaborative desks.
"We have a cafeteria that has a stage, we have an outside learning area," said Principal Powell. "We have state of the art promethean boards, our science labs have got everything that you could want in them."
The new campus also includes a library, a massive gym and an outdoor learning space for students to enjoy.
"So when we can get them outside and their reading outside, or doing some hands on activities outside, they love to do work outside, so I'm excited," said Principal Powell.
A large field was included in the campus's layout that students can use during physical education sessions or for class sessions.
"It's gonna be a grassy area where the students can go out their during PE time, or if the teachers want to bring their kids out there to read, or to write," said Brassard.
According to Brassard, the community is thankful for the new middle school despite the devastation caused by Harvey.
"So Harvey really devastated the community, really devastated our school to the point where we had to demolish it, but out of that came this great middle school," said Brassard.
Everyone is welcome at the open house on May 2, starting at 5:30 p.m.
On May 3, fifth and sixth graders will have the chance to explore the campus and walk through their classes.
Students will start classes at the new campus on Monday, May 6th.
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.