Students and teachers at Apalachee High School returned to campus on Monday for the first time since police say a 14-year-old student shot and killed four people on school grounds.
The students were greeted by grief counselors, therapy dogs and an increase in law enforcement, including Georgia State Patrol.
Standing near a pile of flowers surrounding the base of the flag pole outside of the school ahead of an open house for students, Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said the return was a “huge step” toward healing.
“On September the fourth, our community was brought to its knees,” Smith said. “Unfortunately, our most vulnerable were attacked — our kids and our teachers in this building behind us — but what evil did not plan for was the resiliency and the strength that they have.”
School officials say only a half-day of classes are scheduled to help students ease back into their old routine. Students will return full-time after fall break on Oct. 14.
As for the hall where the shooting took place, it will be closed for the remainder of the school year, meaning social studies classes that normally took place there will be temporarily relocated to another building a few miles away. New classroom pods are expected to arrive on campus by January.
In an emailed statement, Barrow County Schools Superintendent Dallas LeDuff said the district is still considering other next steps.
“We know this isn’t easy,” LeDuff said. “We are all still navigating our way through adversity and emotions we may never fully understand. The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our top priority. We are committed to holding discussions with our community and safety experts about additional layers of security.”
Teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, and students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, all died in the shooting. Another teacher and eight more students were wounded, with seven of those students hit by gunfire.
The suspected gunman, Colt Gray, is being charged as an adult. He faces four counts of murder, with more charges expected in connection with the wounded.
Authorities have also charged Gray’s father, Colin Gray, for allegedly giving his son access to the gun used in the shooting when he knew or should have known that the teen was a danger to himself and others.
