Ellis Middle School is renewing the past.

Ellis staff and community members rededicated the school’s “Burning Bush” Thursday night during the third annual Ellis Expo.

“The Bush is back,” said Connie Nelson, one of the chief fundraisers for the popular sculpture’s restoration.

Nelson and retired art teacher Jim Wegner spent the better part of 2010 and 2011 raising money to restore the sculpture — created in 1958 when the school was built — to honor the Ellis family, who sold the school’s land to Austin Public Schools. The sculpture is also supposed to inspire students to reach for greater heights.

Though the original was set in a courtyard, it had to move once a fire in 1986 burned the old school building down. Time and wear eventually gutted the sculpture of its original stained glass artwork, which is why Nelson and Wegner organized an effort to get the sculpture restored and inside the school.

“I always felt it should be in a more protected environment,” Wegner said.

Wegner still remembers going to artist John Rood’s house and seeing some of the mockups for the original Burning Bush sculpture. Wegner taught at Ellis during its first two years and also taught at what is now Riverland Community College. Seeing the newly restored sculpture — especially with stained glass that looks slightly better than the original — was a proud moment for Wegner.

“We’re super lucky to have gotten it in the first place,” he said.

Residents and school staff alike have been pleased with the effort, which took about $14,000 to replace the stained glass and raise part of Ellis’ roof last summer to accommodate the 10-foot work of art.

“It’s beautiful,” Austin Public School board member Don Fox told Wegner Thursday.

What’s more, Ellis students are impressed with the sculpture and no problems have come up thus far, according to Ellis Principal Katie Berglund.

“We’ve had such a good reception from the kids,” she said.