Apalachee High School to Remain Closed While Surrounding Schools Set to Reopen Tuesday Following Massacre

Following the recent tragedy, Georgia’s Barrow County School District is gearing up to resume classes after the Apalachee High School shooting that claimed the lives of two teachers and two students.

Schools across the district are expected to reopen on Tuesday, September 10th, while Apalachee in Winder will remain closed to recover.  First-year Superintendent Dallas LeDuff addressed the incident in a statement shared on the district’s website.

“This last week has been an incredibly difficult time for all of us.  We are still grieving but at the same time, we must try our best to navigate this uncharted journey ahead together,” LeDuff wrote.

To ensure safety, stricter security measures will be implemented once schools resume.  This includes heightened law enforcement presence throughout the district.

“We will have extra support and security, including more law enforcement, at each of our schools,” LeDuff added.

Additionally, LeDuff emphasized the importance of mental health and resources for those grieving the aftermath of the tragic incident.  In fact, the superintendent mentioned that the Georgia Emergency Management Agency plans to create a Community Recovery Center in the area so individuals can access free mental health services.

“We are in this together,” LeDuff wrote. “As a community, we will continue to care for one another.”

School shooter Colt Gray, 14, has been charged with carrying out the massacre, while his father, Colin, has also been charged with providing him with the firearm used in the murders.