Newtown Residents Decide the Fate of Sandy Hook Elementary

The future of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., has been decided. Nearly 10 months after a gunman brutally murdered 20 students and six adult staff members, members of the community voted on Saturday to demolish the school and rebuild.

Residents agreed to take nearly $50 million in state government funds to dismantle and construct a new educational facility. Thousands of voters showed up to make their voices heard on the matter, with 4,504 voting yes and 558 voting no to the proposal, NPR reports.

Kyra Murray holds a photo with victims of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol calling for gun reform legislation and marking the 9 month anniversary of the shooting September 18, 2013 in Washington, DC. Credit: Getty Images

Students who attended Sandy Hook before the shooting have been going to school in nearby Monroe, Conn. The new building would allow them to return to school in their own community. It is set to be constructed near the same site as the original school.

The new school is expected to be completed in 2016.

Photo Credit: Julio Cortez/AP Photo

Legislative Council Chairman Jeff Capeci told the Danbury News Times that he was happy the proposal passed, as he expected it would.

"Now we can move forward with the new school," he said. "This is great for the town. We can bring our children home."

(H/T: NPR)

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