THANKS FOR JOINING US.
MINNEHAHA ACADEMY STUDENTS ARE
GETTING CLOSER TO RETURNING TO
THE CAMPUS ROCKED BY A DEADLY
EXPLOSION LAST YEAR.
A GAS LEAK CAUSED THAT
EXPLOSION IN AUGUST OF 2017.
THE KILLED SCHOOL EMPLOYEES,
RUTH BERG AND JOHN CARLSON.
MUCH OF THE SCHOOL BUILDING HAD
TO BE DEMOLISHED AFTER THE
EXPLOSION.
TODAY SCHOOL LEADERS AND
STUDENTS CELEBRATE A MILESTONE
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW
BUILDING.
WCCO'S ANGELA DAVIS WAS THERE.
PEOPLE ARE DRAWN TO THIS
SITE.
CARS SLOW AND PEDESTRIANS PAUSE
TO TAKE IN THE REBUILDING
PROGRESS.
Reporter: EVEN FOR THE MOST
OPTIMISTIC, IT WAS HARD TO
IMAGINE MINNEHAHA ACADEMY MOVING
PAST LAST YEAR'S EXPLOSION.
SCHOOL PRESIDENT DONNA HARRIS
SUFFERED TWO SPRAINED ANKLES AND
A CONCUSSION BUT NEVER LOST
SIGHT OF TURNING TRAGEDY INTO
TRIUMPH.
THIS PROJECT HAS DEEPLY
TOUCHED YOUR HEARTS.
IT'S TOUCHED MINE.
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT
RESILIENCE AND RISING FROM THE
ASHES THAT INSPIRES.
Reporter: ABOUT 75
GRADUATING SENIORS WHO MAKE UP
THE CLASS OF 2019 SIGNED THE
LAST PILLAR TO BE PLACED ON TOP
OF THE NEW BUILDING.
AND THEN IT WAS HOISTED INTO THE
AIR AND POSITIONED.
THE BUILDING WILL OPEN NEXT
FALL.
I THINK IT'S REALLY NICE FOR
THE CLASS OF 2019 TO LEAVE OUR
NEW MARK ON THE BUILDING
CONSIDERING WE DON'T GET TO BE
THERE.
IT'S KIND OF LEVERING OUR JOY
AND SPIRIT FROM MINNEHAHA IN THE
BUILDING WHICH I THINK IS VERY
IMPORTANT FOR US.
HOPEFULLY IT GIVES THEM A
LITTLE CLOSURE I GUESS.
THEY LOVE THEIR SCHOOL AND
THEY'RE TIGHT.
A LOT OF THESE KIDS WENT FROM
KINDERGARTEN ON UP AND THEY'RE
SENIORS.
THEY DIDN'T GET TO GO BACK FROM
THIS BUILDING.
WE'VE NOT FALTERED IN THE
NURTURE AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE
GOD-GIVEN GIFTS OF THE STUDENTS
IN OUR TEMPORARY SITE, BUT WE
ARE EAGER TO RETURN HOME.
Reporter: ANGELA DAVIS, WCCO
4 NEWS.
YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE NEW
