Newtown votes to rebuild Sandy Hook Elementary School with $50 million grant

Interim School Superintendent John Reed said the grant will help "make Newtown whole" 10 months after the massacre

Published October 6, 2013 3:43PM (EDT)

Residents of Newtown, Conn. have accepted the state's $50 million grant to rebuild Sandy Hook Elementary School, the site of a shooting rampage 10 months ago that killed more than two dozen people.

More than 5,000 Newtown residents turned out to vote for the referendum, with an overwhelming 4,504 in favor of accepting the grant, reports NBC Connecticut.

The funding "comes without strings," according to Weston Public Schools Interim School Superintendent John Reed. Reed told The Newtown Bee that "It does not have to be repaid, it has no impact on the tax rate."

"It is an attempt on the part of the state to make Newtown whole. That means we had seven schools when we started school year last year, and I think it's the state's judgment that we have seven schools now," said Reed.

According to NBC, the new school will be built in the same location as the current school, but more land will be purchased in order to create a new entrance.


By Prachi Gupta

Prachi Gupta is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on pop culture. Follow her on Twitter at @prachigu or email her at pgupta@salon.com.

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Adam Lanza Education Newtown Connecticut Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting