PERRY, Iowa — Perry High School students returned to campus Wednesday, nearly one month after a gunman opened fire inside the school.
On Jan. 4, 11-year-old Ahmir Jolliff, a student at Perry Middle School, was killed. High School Principal Dan Marburger died from injuries sustained during the shooting just 10 days later.
Students smiled as they reunited with friends on Wednesday, the school's drop-off lot filled with cars and busses once again. Despite somewhat chilly morning temperatures, teachers waited at the front door to greet students and welcome them back in the building.
The Perry Community School District has made some changes to prioritize student safety upon the high school's re-opening: students are required to enter through the main door of the school and must exit the building within 15 minutes of the last bell.
Additional administrators and law enforcement officials were on school grounds to help with the transition. There were also comfort dogs available to students as they continued to heal from the tragedy.
Some students who spoke to Local 5 said that they are a bit anxious to return, while others feel that being back in the classroom will help them start to feel some normalcy again.