On a windy afternoon in May, school board members and representatives from the architectural firm and the general contractor turned over a shovel of dirt where the new school will be built. A large contingent from the local Hmong community attended the groundbreaking to Vang Pao Elementary.

To many of the Hmong in attendance, the simple event took on heightened symbolic importance, as evidenced by several scooping up handfuls and clumps of dirt. At the conclusion of the groundbreaking, school board member Johnny Winston, Jr. offered his shovel to former board member Shwaw Vang, who was instrumental in garnering support to name the school after Vang Pao, revered by many Hmong living in the U.S.

The school will be on the cutting edge of energy efficiency, with geothermal HVAC, day lighting and solar electric panels. The school is scheduled to open for the 2008-09 school year.

Board member Johnny Winston Jr. hands his shovel to former board member Shwaw Vang, who led the effort to name the school after Vang Pao.

Former school board members Shwaw Vang, Bill Keys and Ruth Robarts turn over a shovel of dirt.

Shwaw Vang, clutching a groundbreaking shovel, talks to members of the Hmong community, including Bee Vang, who holds a large clump of earth from the groundbreaking.

Superintendent Art Rainwater reminded attendees that "This is the community's school, and it will be the community's school 100 years from now."

A woman proudly poses for a cell phone picture of her holding one of the groundbreaking shovels.