Students, their families and staff were helped by the open house put on by Madison High School officials to make returning to classes Wednesday a little easier.
It was the first time students had been in the building since Monday’s shooting in the cafeteria that left two students wounded, two others injured and ended in the arrest of 14-year-old James Austin Hancock.
Hundreds of people flowed in and out of the building — media was not allowed inside.
Faith Auvil, an eighth grader, said she’s ready to go back to school.
“It was just a tragedy that all that happened. But I feel like we’re all OK,” she said.
Gabe Hardesty, another eighth grader, said, “It was the worst thing ever, it’s just a tragedy. He’s a sweet kid and just made a dumb mistake.”
Their families were glad for the opportunity.
Becky Gephart, of Madison Twp., who has two grandchildren in the district, said, “If you hold them back, it’ll make them scared, they need to get on with their normal life.”
Parents don’t think it’s too soon for the students to get back to school, she said.
“We need to come together and this community has always been together, and worked together, and that’s why everything came together on the day of the shooting, it just all went so well,” Gephart said.
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