Richneck Elementary Reopens with New Safety Protocols After Shooting
Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, is reopening on Monday for the first time since a 6-year-old student allegedly shot his teacher, Abigail Zwerner, inside a classroom on January 6.[0] The school will have new safety protocols in place, including metal detectors and clear backpacks.[1] The outcome of the incident has caused the Newport News Public Schools superintendent to be removed and the principal of the school to be transferred to another school.[2]
In the weeks since the shooting, revelations have emerged on how the administration handled the incident.[3] According to a statement from the student’s family released last week, the student suffers from “an acute disability” and was under a specialized care plan at school.[4] One of his parents accompanied him to school daily as part of the plan.[5] However, the week of the shooting was the first that his parents were not in the classroom with him.[5] The family has said the gun the child allegedly brought to school in his backpack was secured by a trigger lock and kept on the top shelf of a closet.[6]
Zwerner has been hailed as a hero for her actions in keeping her students safe after she was shot.[7] She made sure all her students made it out of the classroom and was the last person to leave her classroom before making her way to the administration office.[8] Zwerner was hit by a single round as she was teaching and was taken to the hospital.[6] Zwerner was discharged from the hospital and is still in the process of healing.[6]
The incident has sparked outrage among frustrated parents.[9] The lawyer for the hurt teacher declared last week that the school personnel had been warned several times before the shooting about the student having a firearm and that he had been threatening people.[2] Diane Toscano, a lawyer, claimed that approximately an hour after an employee was denied the right to search the student, Zwerner was shot.[2]
As children returned to class on Monday, police were on campus to “assist with the transition.”[10] The school will be limiting visitors during this first week of instruction to allow staff “the opportunity to establish routines and procedures with students.”[2] Parents will not be allowed to enter classrooms and those who choose to walk their children to class must show identification and are also subject to search.[2]
0. “Virginia school reopens after teacher shot by student” UPI News, 30 Jan. 2023, https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2023/01/30/virginia-school-reopens-following-teacher-shooting/4611675104177/
1. “Security heightened, resources available as Richneck students return to class” WAVY.com, 30 Jan. 2023, https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/newport-news/richneck-students-return-to-class/
2. “Virginia school announces new safety protocols as students return to class nearly a month after a 6-year-old allegedly …” WPSD Local 6, 30 Jan. 2023, https://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/virginia-school-announces-new-safety-protocols-as-students-return-to-class-nearly-a-month-after/article_aba633da-a0b5-11ed-9044-bb4d81db93ef.html
3. “Virginia school reopens after 6-year-old student shot teacher: How do parents feel?” KUAR, 30 Jan. 2023, https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/2023-01-30/virginia-school-reopens-after-6-year-old-student-shot-teacher-how-do-parents-feel
4. “Students return to Virginia school after shooting; injured teacher to sue” The Lion, 30 Jan. 2023, https://readlion.com/2023/01/30/abby-zwerner-richneck-elementary-newport-news-virginia-diane-toscano/
5. “Richneck Elementary set to open Monday following shooting in classroom” Daily Press, 24 Jan. 2023, https://www.dailypress.com/news/education/dp-nw-richneck-sets-reopening-day-20230124-ecuwjtn3bbd3vgo7hlxwloqkdy-story.html
6. “Richneck Elementary reopens weeks after teacher shot by 6-year-old boy” The Washington Post, 30 Jan. 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/01/30/richneck-elementary-reopens-after-shooting/
7. “Principal at Virginia school where 6-year-old shot teacher removed as students return to class” msnNOW, 30 Jan. 2023, https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/principal-at-virginia-school-where-6-year-old-shot-teacher-removed-as-students-return-to-class/ar-AA16V3N7?li=BBnbcA0
8. “Students will return to Richneck Elem. Jan. 30, almost a month after shooting” News 3 WTKR Norfolk, 23 Jan. 2023, https://www.wtkr.com/news/richneck-elem-remains-closed-17-days-after-student-shot-teacher-reopening-date-to-come
9. “What we know about the Richneck Elementary School shooting” 13newsnow.com WVEC, 27 Jan. 2023, https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/community/richneck-elementary-school-shooting-abby-zwerner-newport-news-virginia-what-we-know/291-b89e6f2d-184b-41f3-8db6-d0e3c3823709
10. “Students At School Where Six-Year-Old Child Shot Teacher Return To Class | NEWSRADIO 1040 WHO” iHeart, 30 Jan. 2023, https://whoradio.iheart.com/content/2023-01-30-students-at-school-where-six-year-old-child-shot-teacher-return-to-class/
