Va. elementary school reopens after 1st-grade teacher shooting

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Richneck Elementary students returned to school Monday, more than three weeks after firstgrade teacher Abigail Zwerner was shot in her classroom by a 6-year-old.

Teachers and friendly signs, as well as police officers and metal detectors, welcomed the children back. Some parents walked their children into their classrooms, and some gave them kisses and waved goodbye at the front door.

Jordan Vestre, who was dropping off his third-grade son, said he was a little apprehensive.

“I’m just glad they’ve taken the steps they have to improve the security,” he said. “I feel like there’s a lot more they can do, but I feel like it’s going in the right direction now.”

Vestre and his son attended the back-to-school night Richneck had last week, and he said it helped prepare him for the reopening.

“He had a lot of fun, saw some friends, played some games,” Vestre said.

Many parents declined to speak to the media, and a few expressed a hope that their children’s lives would return to a sense of normalcy.

School Board Chair Lisa Surles-law and Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones, along with other members of the school board, city council and police and fire chiefs, were at the school to welcome back teachers and students.

“I walked the building a little while ago, and they are very excited to welcome their students,” Surles-law said about the teachers. She said she thanked them for their work getting ready for the reopening.

“Thank you for carrying on the great work that we’re doing here,” she said.

Surles-law said metal detectors were in place, and therapy dogs would be in all first-grade classrooms Monday. Additionally, all classrooms now have doors installed.

The original design of the building had an open concept that left some classrooms without doors.

Parents were permitted to walk their students to their classrooms on Monday to ease any separation anxiety.

“We’re pretty much considering it like the first day of kindergarten for all students,” she said.

Surles-law added that most students were smiling and happy to be back with friends.