ATLANTA– Many students in Barrow County, Georgia, will return to school on Tuesday, six days later. after a shooting Two teachers and two students were killed at the school district’s Apalachee High School, northeast of Atlanta.
No date has been set for when the 1,900 students at that high school will be able to return to class, but the 13,000 students at other schools in Barrow County will return, including the middle school and elementary school adjacent to the Apalachee campus in Winder.
Superintendent Dallas LeDuff said in a video message Sunday that sheriffs and state troopers will provide extra security when schools reopen Tuesday, with counseling available on all campuses. He said if students or employees aren’t ready to return, they should contact their school’s principal for help.
“We know the days ahead will be difficult, and that we have a number of staff and students who are not ready to return to school,” LeDuff said. “We also believe as a school system that it is our responsibility to provide a safe space for those who are.”
Sabrina Masters Reed, a third-grade teacher at Holsenback Elementary School, said she attended a training on grief and trauma on Monday. She said she’s not sure how many students will be returning on Tuesday, but said many parents want their children back so they can go to work without having to arrange for child care.
Many in the community are still in shock nearly a week after the shooting, said Reed, who leads the Georgia Association of Educators chapter, the state’s second-largest teachers organization.
“I know other colleagues — who are parents — and parents who chose this community because they thought it was safe,” Reed said of the rapidly suburbanizing county of 90,000 people. “The point is, I think it’s a safe place here in Barrow County. It’s just a sad fact that these kinds of tragedies can happen anywhere in any community in the United States.”
Family members and friends are mourning for the victimsincluding teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, and students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14. A memorial service was held for Aspinwall on Sunday, while a Romanian Orthodox church community honored Irimie. Her funeral is scheduled for Saturday.
Colt Gray, 14, is being charged as an adult with four counts of murder, District Attorney Brad Smith said. more charges are likely are being filed against him in connection with the injuries. Authorities have also charged his 54-year-old father, Colin Gray with second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and cruelty to children. Investigators allege Colin Gray gave his son access to the gun when he knew or should have known the teen was a danger to himself and others.
Another teacher and eight more students were injured, seven of whom were hit by gunfire. More injured people are returning home from the hospital. Doug Griffith said his 15-year-old daughter, Natalie Griffith, was released from the hospital Monday after being treated for gunshot wounds to her arm and wrist.
Natalie Griffith is a freshman and a flutist in the band. She was shot during her algebra class.
“She got an A in algebra and she’s very proud of that,” said Doug Griffith.
Griffith is one of several family members who are raising donations through GoFundMe. He said he wants to make sure his daughter gets help, and also support other victims.
“I just want to make sure she gets the support she needs because this is uncharted territory,” Griffith said.
On Monday, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency and county officials opened a community recovery center in Winder, offering counseling, legal and financial assistance and other services.