School underway in tiny Texas town hit by blast

WEST, Texas — The first day of school is underway in West after a plant explosion that killed at least 14 people and left hundreds of people without homes.

Students up to sixth grade were dropped off Monday morning at West Elementary School, which was outside the immediate blast zone. Some classes were to be held in trailers behind the building.

Middle- and high-school students were bused to a nearby school district, which turned its old, vacant intermediate school building into a temporary high school. Volunteers and staff spent three days painting, cleaning and filling the classrooms with supplies.

West assistant superintendent Jan Hungate said some teachers at work Monday had not yet been home.

Parents and students said they were just hoping for things to return to normal.