After increased security and a change to school administration, children at the Virginia elementary school where a first grader shot his teacher earlier this month returned to school Monday.
Richneck Elementary School in Newport News was closed for more than three weeks after a 6-year-old brought a handgun to school and allegedly shot teacher Abby Zwerner during class on Jan. 6. The 25-year-old teacher suffered gunshot wounds to her hand and chest.
Last week, Price confirmed that the school’s assistant principal, Ebony Parker, had resigned.
According to the school’s website, Karen Lynch has been named interim school administrator at Richneck Elementary.
However, Zwerner’s lawyer, Diane Toscano said the shooting was preventable and happened because the school’s administration failed to act on information and complaints from staff.
Parents Call for Accountability, Discipline
During a Jan. 17 school board meeting, many in the community who spoke blamed the school district’s poor discipline and lack of consequences for increased classroom disruptions, school violence, and shootings.Andrew Hlavacek, a Newport News resident and former school board candidate, said the Richneck shooting was the third school shooting in the district in the last 16 months.
Father of four Doug Marmon said, “we need to remove all members of Newport News public school executive leadership.” He blamed a lack of accountability for students as a major reason for increased violence toward teachers.
“Students need to be held accountable for their actions, regardless of age or circumstances—not transferred to another school or placed in a different classroom. Equality in our schools should not include the suffering of the majority for the lack of discipline for the few,” said Morman.
Kimberly Slaydon, a mother of three children in the district, said she quit her job because of the level of disrespect she experienced during her time as a school nurse. As a product of the Newport News public schools, Slaydon said today’s schools are much different than the schools she attended in the 1990s and 2000s.
“The buildings are the same; some of the teachers are the same; the students are not the same. We are not holding kids and parents accountable for their actions, because we need funding from the state and federal government to teach our kids,” said Slaydon.
The Epoch Times reached out to the Newport News Public Schools for comment. A district spokesperson said the district cannot comment on personnel changes. When asked whether school discipline policies will be evaluated, the spokesperson cited physical security upgrades such as police and metal detectors, saying, “The new security protocols are designed to enhance safety and security.”