Several parents in an Iowa town where a deadly school shooting occurred earlier this month told school officials Monday they want more preventative measures and transparency as the school board plans for students’ return.
Their comments came during a Perry school board meeting the day after the death of Principal Dan Marburger, who was seriously injured in the shooting.
Grace Castro criticized the school district’s policies, saying “lives have been lost due to our lack of preventative measures.” She suggested the installation of metal detectors at school entrances along with a temporary remote learning option, and enforcing a clear-bag policy as “the absolute least you can do.”
Mark Drahos also asked for more preventive measures. But he noted that school officials won’t be able to please everyone. He said he discussed ideas with a school board member, including an access point to buildings, a no-bag policy and additional security such as hallway monitors.
Joseph Swanson said, “I understand that the solution to this problem is not an easy solution, if it can be solved at all. But attention should be paid to improving safety measures and mental health well-being.”
Monday’s meeting was postponed until Sunday due to Marburger’s death.
His body will be escorted back to Perry on Tuesday. His family has encouraged community members to line the route to welcome him home. Funeral services are pending.
The attack began in the Perry High School cafeteria, where students were having breakfast before class on the first day after winter break. The shooting continued outside the cafeteria, but occurred on the north side of the school.
Ahmir Jolliff, 11 years old, was killed and seven others were injured, including Marburger, two other school staff members and four students.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety said Marburger “acted selflessly and endangered himself in an apparent effort to protect his students.” Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds ordered all flags lowered to half-staff in Marburger’s honor until sunset on the day of his funeral and burial. She also encouraged people, businesses, schools and local authorities to do the same.
The district’s reopening plan has been put on hold until further notice due to Marburger’s death. School officials are seeking the expertise of law enforcement and safety experts, according to a Facebook post from the school district on Monday. The district plans to have uniformed officers on site when students return to school. The district continues to offer counseling services. Extracurricular competitions for high school students will resume on Tuesday.
The last injured student was released from the hospital on Sunday, so everyone injured in the shooting, with the exception of Marburger, could now return home to Perry, according to Facebook posts from relatives of the victims.
The 17-year-old student who opened fire died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot. Authorities said the suspect, identified as Dylan Butler, had a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun. Authorities also found and recovered a rudimentary improvised explosive device in his belongings.
In comments read on her behalf at the school board meeting, Ahmir Jolliff’s mother, Erica Jolliff, asked that Butler not be called a school shooter or murderer.
“He has a name, and it’s Dylan. “Not treating him as a person, allowing bullying and calling him names instead of Dylan may have triggered the events of January 4,” she said. She also called on the school district to review the events from start to finish and come up with safety procedures to ensure no new shootings occur.
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Associated Press reporter Josh Funk contributed from Omaha, Nebraska.