Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012

Nervous parents send children back to school across Triangle

Triangle officials try to reassure shaken families and teachers

Carrie Gephart waited for her 7-year-old son to emerge from a quiet Hunter Elementary School in Raleigh, just like any other weekday afternoon. But something felt different about Monday.

On the first day of funerals for the tiny victims of Friday’s mass shooting in Newtown, Conn., parents everywhere had heavy hearts and uneasy feelings as they watched their kids board school buses. In the Triangle, school officials sent out messages, counselors opened their doors and uniformed officers showed up at schools unsolicited to calm nerves.

“It’s hard,” said Gephart. “It’s pretty terrible. It’s hard to put into words. I actually feel safe at this school, but it’s the uncertainty of everything.”

On Friday, as investigators in Connecticut processed a horrific crime scene, Gephart’s two children – one at Hunter and one at Ligon Middle School – were on “Code Yellow” lockdowns after gunshots were reported in that part of Southeast Raleigh. The lockdown ended without incident, but not before Gephart’s second-grade son, Tobin, was barred from recess and at one point was told to crouch down in the classroom.

On Monday, Stephen Gainey, interim superintendent of Wake County schools, said the system got necessary information to the district’s 169 schools about how to respond to parents and to counsel students in the wake of the Connecticut tragedy. But there was no effort to draw too much attention to school violence.

“I drove in today hoping we could have as normal a day as possible for kids,” Gainey said at a briefing with the media Monday.

At Sandy Hook, the Newtown school where Friday’s shooting occurred, new safety procedures had been implemented by the principal, who lost her life. The gunman blasted through a locked door to gain entry.

In Wake County, locking procedures vary by school. The rules attempt to balance access and security, Gainey said.

Thank you to the police

The Wake system didn’t ask for stepped up patrols Monday, but law enforcement showed up anyway. Extra officers were visible at schools across the Triangle.

Heritage Elementary School’s PTA posted a thank you to Wake Forest police on Facebook.

“Some of you may have seen the detective who was out at carpool and the two officers who came by HES later in the day,” the post said. “Without being asked or called, WFPD decided to stop by local elementary schools to send some good will and comfort our way. And to let our staff and teachers know they are always, ALWAYS just a phone call away if they are ever needed.”

Jim Sughrue, the Raleigh Police Department spokesman, said officers were asked to be a little more visible at schools on their beats. “We felt like a presence around the schools would be both beneficial and reassuring,” he said.

Principals and administrators were visible, too. In Durham, top administrators made the rounds at schools. Superintendent Eric Becoats made a robocall to parents Sunday.

“Safety is our top priority,” he said. “Please reassure your children that we all work together to keep our schools safe and secure for them.”

‘Nervous today’

Counselors were available to help children and staff process the news and deal with their fears.

“It’s all about kids, but don’t discount there are some staff members out there that are very nervous today, too,” Gainey said Monday.

Gephart, the Hunter Elementary parent, was reassured Friday that the school took every precaution by activating the lockdown. Later, at home, the family talked about what had happened in Connecticut. Her second-grader was perhaps wise beyond his years, Gephart said.

“He said, ‘Some people are sick, Mom.’ ”

Staff writer Stacy Chandler contributed to this report.