ST. CLOUD -- After a devastating fire in 2014 the Roosevelt Education Center is rising from the ashes.

The school was rebuilt following the model of the old Roosevelt school, with the gym being the only structure to survive the fire.

Jill Murphy is the director of the Care, Treatment and Alternative Program for District 742. She says the building officially opened January 4th and is now the home to three of the districts special education programs.

"The first is our elementary program for students from K-5th grade with special needs, City Life that houses kids from 6-12 grade and our last program is InnStep which supports 18-21 year-old's with special needs helping them transition to adult life," says Murphy.

Along with new classrooms the school added health services, a library, computer lab and community rooms.

With the Early Childhood Center moving to Colts Academy in St. Joseph, Murphy says it's been different seeing the building used for another purpose.

"It's very different in that we have the ability to help teach and grow students of kindergarten to 21-year-old's," says Murphy.

An open house will be held tomorrow (Thursday) from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for the community to check out the facility, located at 3015 North 3rd Street North.

Firefighters say it was lightning that caused the fire that destroyed the building built in 1920.

 

Roosevelt Education Center to hold an open house to showcase the remodeled building. (Photo: Alex Svejkovsky, WJON)
Roosevelt Education Center to hold an open house to showcase the remodeled building. (Photo: Alex Svejkovsky, WJON)
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