Most Barrow County students returning to class for 1st time after Apalachee High School shooting
BARROW COUNTY, Ga. - Most Barrow County students will be heading back to school Tuesday for the first time since the deadly mass shooting last week. Only Apalachee High School students will not be going back yet.
For the sixth day, students, parents and community members stood around the flag pole at Apalachee High School, praying and leaning on one another for support.
There are mixed emotions about other Barrow County Schools being back in session Tuesday.
Mike Harris says he's comfortable with his grandson going back to class.
Apalachee HS shooting victim says she wants to go back to school
Natalie Griffith's mom says she is simply the bravest girl she has ever seen. Despite being shot during the deadly incident at Apalachee High School and having surgery to reconstruct her wrist, she says she still wants to return to the school once she's healed in order to finish out the academic year.
"I think the kids want and need to be back around their friends and their teachers and back in a learning environment and we can't let situations like this control our lives," said Harris.
Other parents are nervous and plan to keep their child home a little longer.
In a video statement, Barrow County Schools Superintendent Dr. Dallas LeDuff said he understands.
"If you are not ready to return to school, we ask that you reach out to your school's principal, let them know that you're not ready and allow them to assist you with finding any resources that you may need," said Dr. LeDuff.
He said for those who will be in school, they will notice a difference.
"You can expect to see additional security staff provided by the Barrow County Sheriff's Office and Georgia State Patrol at our schools. You can also expect to see additional mental health support provided at every campus," said Dr. LeDuff.
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The superintendent says there are still a lot of decisions to be made before a final decision is made on when Apalachee High School will resume classes.
Sabrina Masters Reed, a third grade teacher at Holsenback Elementary School, said she attended grief and trauma training on Monday. She said she’s not sure how many students will return Tuesday, but said many parents will need their children to return so they can go to work without having to find child care.
Many in the community remain in shock nearly a week after the shootings, said Reed, who leads the county’s chapter of the Georgia Association of Educators, the state’s second-largest teachers group.
"I know of other coworkers — who are parents — and parents who chose this community because they thought it was safe here," Reed said of the rapidly suburbanizing county of 90,000 people. "The thing is, I think it is a safe place here in Barrow County. It’s just a sad fact that these tragedies can happen anywhere in any community in the U.S."
On Monday, Apalachee High School students were allowed back into the school to pick up their belongings that they left behind the day of the shooting.
"They had teachers and staff walk us down to the room. They had support animals in there," said Ivia Carter who was there with her daughter.
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Relatives and friends are mourning the victims, including teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, and students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14. A memorial service was held Sunday for Aspinwall, while a Romanian Orthodox Church congregation honored Irimie. Her funeral is set for Saturday.
Colt Gray, 14, is charged as an adult with four counts of murder, and District Attorney Brad Smith has said more charges are likely to be filed against him in connection with the wounded. 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 that the teen was a danger to himself and others.
Another teacher and eight more students were wounded, with seven of those hit by gunfire. More of the wounded are going home from hospitals.
Officials say additional support for those dealing with the aftershocks of the tragedy can be found at the Barrow County Leisure Services Center where GEMA, the Red Cross and other agencies set up a Community Recovery Center offering mental health services and other resources.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.