School Reopens Two Years After Burning

Kim Johnson ReportingThousands of Utah students headed back to class today, but nowhere was the anticipation greater than at Lincoln Elementary in Ogden.

Students there saw their school burn to the ground two years ago. Now out of the ashes, a new one has risen, a school to call their own. They've waited two years for this day, a day when students, and their moms and dads, could finally walk through the doors of a brand new Lincoln Elementary. A banner day, to replace the memory of a tragic one two years ago.

The arsonist who destroyed the old Lincoln has never been caught. And some of what perished can never be replaced.

First grade teacher Nancy Shaw lost a treasure-trove of educational tools from her native Scotland.

Nancy Shaw, Teacher: “For a whole two years I've opened my closet and looked for things, and the children will see me doing that and they'll say, ‘Did it get burned Mrs. Shaw?’"

But today is a day for looking ahead, not back. And there is much to celebrate about this state-of-the-art school.

Carol Mallory, Parent: "There's like five or six new computers in every classroom, and the library is just stacked with new books."

Seven-thousand books to be exact. And the classrooms all have hooks for coats and backpacks and doors that lead right to the playground. Debbie Hefner says Teachers, and parents all had input in the design.

Debbie Hefner, Lincoln Elementary staff: "The classrooms all have sinks. The TV’s haven't been installed yet, but they'll have great big TV sets. They're all wired for the Internet in every classroom, and all the furniture is brand new."

Teachers, parents and students are particularly grateful to the faculty and staff at Edison Elementary who shared their facilities while a new Lincoln was being built.

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