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Parents want district to improve security more after deadly Iowa school shooting

Parents want district to improve security more after deadly Iowa school shooting
Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines. New tonight - Ahmir Jolliff was the 6th grade student killed the day of the shooting. His family called him, "Smiley." The people of Perry have embraced the family's nickname and are using it to spread an important message. ÌÇĐÄvlog's Kayla James is here to tell us why it's starting at tonight's basketball game. (ĂĄĂĄĂĄ1-SHOTĂĄĂĄĂĄ) Ahmir's family says the 11-year-old could often be found with a smile. It's that smile and his kindness -- a mother-daughter duo in Perry -- Want to make sure lives on in his memory, during the district's first school activity since the shooting. The saying goes: "A picture is worth a thousand words". But the photos of Ahmir Jolliff -- with him wearing his best smile -- Are worth more than words can describe to the people of Perry. <ZOEY VAIL/PERRY HIGH SENIOR; 0823; 17:53:04-17:53:07> <"HE JUST SHOWS HE'S A RADIANT, HAPPY BOY."> <KATHY TUHN/PERRY SCHOOLS PARENT; 0799; 17:22:28- 17:22:35> <"I WAS REALLY TOUCHED BY THE WORDS IN HIS MEMORIAL THAT TALKED ABOUT WHAT A BRIGHT LIGHT HE WAS; HOW KIND HE WAS."> How he was always smiling: All qualities mother-daughter duo Kathy Tuhn and Zoey Vail -- <NAT: 0825; 17:56:28- 17:56:29: "IT'S JUST IN HONOR OF AHMIR."> Are spreading to others: <NAT: 0817; 17:39:19- 17:39:20: "HEY GUYS, CAN WE GET YOU A STICKER?"> Using stickers -- smiley face stickers. <KATHY TUHN/PERRY SCHOOLS PARENT; 0799; 17:26:37- 17:26:45> <"I JUST DO WANT AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE HIS LIFE IN A BIG WAY; SAME THING WITH MR. MARBURGER."> Whether a familiar face from Perry -- <NAT: HUGGING; 0828; 17:58:55-17:58:57: "YEAH I WOULD LOVE A STICKER> Or someone coming to cheer on Saydel's teams -- Everyone received a sticker from the hundreds Kathy and Zoey brought. <ZOEY VAIL/PERRY HIGH SENIOR; 0823; 17:52:15-17:52:21> <"THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NOT ONLY AFFECTED OUR COMMUNITY, BUT I'M SURE IT'S GOING TO AFFECT COMMUNITIES AROUND PERRY."> From solid colors to stickers shimmering bright -- <NAT: 0825; 17:57:37- 17:57:38: "WHATEVER STICKER YOU GUYS WANT"> Zoey -- along with her mother and friends -- Made sure it was hard to find someone in the crowd without a sticker. In a time of sorrow -- <NAT: 0833: :18:03:11- 18:03:13: LAUGHTER AND HUG> The people of Perry continue to find strength with each other -- Using a hug -- words -- or even a sticker. <KATHY TUHN/PERRY SCHOOLS PARENT; 0799; 17:22:50- 17:23:00> <"IN A TIME WHEN THINGS ARE REALLY HARD AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, ULTIMATELY WHAT WE CAN DO IS REMEMBER TO LIVE LIKE AHMIR DID AND BE KIND TO PEOPLE."> (ĂĄĂĄĂĄ1-SHOTĂĄĂĄĂĄ) While Kathy Tuhn doesn't know Ahmir's mother or family personally -- She hopes they can feel the love from sharing these
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Parents want district to improve security more after deadly Iowa school shooting
Several parents in an Iowa town where a deadly school shooting took place earlier this month told school officials on Monday they want more preventative measures and transparency as the school board plans for students’ return.Their comments came during a Perry school board meeting, the day after the death of Principal Dan Marburger, who was critically injured in the shooting.Grace Castro criticized the school district’s policies, saying that “lives were lost due to our lack of preventative measures.” She suggested the installation of metal detectors at schools’ entrances and a temporary remote learning option at the same time, and enforcement of a clear-bag policy as “the absolute least you can do.”Video above: Perry basketball fans wear smiley stickers to honor Ahmir Jolliff's legacyHer comments echoed what many other many other parents — including some of the victims’ families — have been saying on the Perry Facebook page since the district first announced its reopening plan last week.Mark Drahos also asked the board for more preventative measures. But he noted that school officials won’t be able to please everybody. He said he discussed ideas with a school board member, including a single-point entry to buildings, a no-bag policy and additional security such as hall monitors.Joseph Swanson said, “I understand the solution to this problem is not an easy fix if it even can truly be fixed. But an enhancement of security measures and mental health well-being needs to be addressed.”'Step to normalcy': Perry basketball teams return to courtMonday’s meeting had been postponed from Sunday because of Marburger’s death.His body will be escorted back to Perry on Tuesday from where he had been hospitalized in Des Moines. His family has encouraged community members to line the route to welcome him back home. Funeral services are pending.The attack began in the shared middle and high school cafeteria, where students were eating breakfast before class on their first day back from winter break. The shooting continued outside the cafeteria, but it was contained to the north end of the joint middle and high school building.Sixth-grader Ahmir Jolliff, 11, was killed, and seven others were wounded, including Marburger, two other school staff members and four students.The Iowa Department of Public Safety said Marburger “acted selflessly and placed himself in harm’s way in an apparent effort to protect his students.” Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered all flags lowered to half-staff in honor of Marburger until sunset on the day of his funeral and interment. She also encouraged people, business, schools and local governments to do the same.The district’s reopening plan is on hold until further notice both because of the parent concerns about safety and security and because of Marburger’s death. School officials are seeking the expertise of law enforcement and safety experts, according to a school district Facebook post on Monday. The district plans to have uniformed officers on site as students transition back to school. The district continues to offer counseling services. Middle and high school students’ extracurricular competitions resume Tuesday as the district begins to ease back into its normal schedule.The last injured student was released from the hospital Sunday, so everyone who was injured in the shooting, with the exception of Marburger, has now been able to return home to Perry, according to Facebook posts of victims’ family members.The 17-year-old student who opened fire died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot. Authorities said the suspect, identified as Dylan Butler, had a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun. Authorities also found and rendered safe a rudimentary, improvised explosive device in his belongings.An obituary for Butler that was published in the local newspaper Friday said Dylan loved the outdoors and had a great sense of humor. He was a picky eater who favored macaroni and cheese, pizza and buffalo wings. The article didn’t make any mention of the shooting but said the family plans a private burial. Many members of the Perry community have taken the unexpected step of offering their condolences to Butler’s family since the shooting.In comments read aloud on her behalf at the school board meeting, Ahmir Jolliff’s mother, Erica Jolliff, asked that Butler not be referred to as a school shooter or a murderer.“He has a name, and it is Dylan. By not treating him as a person, allowing bullying and calling him names rather than Dylan potentially triggered the events that happened on Jan. 4,” she said. She also called on the school district to review the events from start to finish and come up with safety procedures to ensure other shootings don’t happen.Dan Marburger's visitation, funeral informationVisitation: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 at Perry Elementary School Gymnasium, 1600 8th St., Perry. Family will be present 2-7 p.m. Visitors are asked to enter on the east side near the PACES entrance.Funeral: 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 at Lutheran Church of Hope, 925 Jordan Creek Parkway in West Des Moines. Private family burial will be held in Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry. The services will be live-streamed at Lutheran Church of Hope's website.Online condolences: Leave condolences for the Marburger family at caldwellparrish.com.Obituary: Find Marburger's obituary here.More coverage of the Perry, Iowa school shootingAhmir Jolliff: Sixth-grader killed in Perry school shooting remembered as a joyful boy'Ahmir was a star:' Father of 11-year-old Perry shooting victim wants son's life to bring joyVisitation, funeral information for slain Perry sixth-grader Ahmir Jolliff'Trying to make sense out of the senseless': Family of Perry school shooter Dylan Butler releases public statementPhotos of Ahmir Jolliff, 11-year-old boy killed in Perry, Iowa school shooting'That's what scouts do:' Perry Boy Scout troop organizes teddy bear drive for elementary studentsQuestions linger about Perry school shooter's motive, where he got firearmsNebraska senator after Iowa school shooting: Give schools option of arming employeesAuthorities identify 17-year-old shooter who killed 1, wounded 7 in Perry school shootingFamilies recount terrifying moments from inside Perry High School during deadly shootingPolice on massive response to Perry High School: 'No community is immune'Iowa leaders, elected officials react to Perry High School shootingDispatch recordings provide timeline of Perry High School shooting in Iowa'May this vigil be a beacon of light': Hundreds gather at Perry park to pray and mourn as a communityFamilies of Sandy Hook victims release statement on Perry High School shooting'Ahmir was a star:' Biological father of 11-year-old Perry shooting victim wants son's life to bring joyPerry Boy Scouts have collected thousands of teddy bears for local studentsPerry 'somber' days after deadly school shooting'Trying to make sense out of the senseless': Parents of Perry school shooter Dylan Butler release public statement

Several parents in an Iowa town where a deadly school shooting took place earlier this month told school officials on Monday they want more preventative measures and transparency as the school board plans for students’ return.

Their comments came during a Perry school board meeting, the day after the death of Principal Dan Marburger, who was critically injured in the shooting.

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Grace Castro criticized the school district’s policies, saying that “lives were lost due to our lack of preventative measures.” She suggested the installation of metal detectors at schools’ entrances and a temporary remote learning option at the same time, and enforcement of a clear-bag policy as “the absolute least you can do.”

Video above: Perry basketball fans wear smiley stickers to honor Ahmir Jolliff's legacy

Her comments echoed what many other many other parents — including some of the victims’ families — have been saying on the Perry Facebook page since the district first announced its reopening plan last week.

Mark Drahos also asked the board for more preventative measures. But he noted that school officials won’t be able to please everybody. He said he discussed ideas with a school board member, including a single-point entry to buildings, a no-bag policy and additional security such as hall monitors.

Joseph Swanson said, “I understand the solution to this problem is not an easy fix if it even can truly be fixed. But an enhancement of security measures and mental health well-being needs to be addressed.”

'Step to normalcy': Perry basketball teams return to court

Monday’s meeting had been postponed from Sunday because of Marburger’s death.

His body will be escorted back to Perry on Tuesday from where he had been hospitalized in Des Moines. His family has encouraged community members to line the route to welcome him back home. Funeral services are pending.

The attack began in the shared middle and high school cafeteria, where students were eating breakfast before class on their first day back from winter break. The shooting continued outside the cafeteria, but it was contained to the north end of the joint middle and high school building.

Sixth-grader Ahmir Jolliff, 11, was killed, and seven others were wounded, including Marburger, two other school staff members and four students.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety said Marburger “acted selflessly and placed himself in harm’s way in an apparent effort to protect his students.” Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered all flags lowered to half-staff in honor of Marburger until sunset on the day of his funeral and interment. She also encouraged people, business, schools and local governments to do the same.

The district’s reopening plan is on hold until further notice both because of the parent concerns about safety and security and because of Marburger’s death. School officials are seeking the expertise of law enforcement and safety experts, according to a school district Facebook post on Monday. The district plans to have uniformed officers on site as students transition back to school. The district continues to offer counseling services. Middle and high school students’ extracurricular competitions resume Tuesday as the district begins to ease back into its normal schedule.

The last injured student was released from the hospital Sunday, so everyone who was injured in the shooting, with the exception of Marburger, has now been able to return home to Perry, according to Facebook posts of victims’ family members.

The 17-year-old student who opened fire died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot. Authorities said the suspect, identified as Dylan Butler, had a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun. Authorities also found and rendered safe a rudimentary, improvised explosive device in his belongings.

An obituary for Butler that was published in the local newspaper Friday said Dylan loved the outdoors and had a great sense of humor. He was a picky eater who favored macaroni and cheese, pizza and buffalo wings. The article didn’t make any mention of the shooting but said the family plans a private burial. Many members of the Perry community have taken the unexpected step of offering their condolences to Butler’s family since the shooting.

In comments read aloud on her behalf at the school board meeting, Ahmir Jolliff’s mother, Erica Jolliff, asked that Butler not be referred to as a school shooter or a murderer.

“He has a name, and it is Dylan. By not treating him as a person, allowing bullying and calling him names rather than Dylan potentially triggered the events that happened on Jan. 4,” she said. She also called on the school district to review the events from start to finish and come up with safety procedures to ensure other shootings don’t happen.

Dan Marburger's visitation, funeral information

  • Visitation: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 at Perry Elementary School Gymnasium, 1600 8th St., Perry. Family will be present 2-7 p.m. Visitors are asked to enter on the east side near the PACES entrance.
  • Funeral: 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 at Lutheran Church of Hope, 925 Jordan Creek Parkway in West Des Moines. Private family burial will be held in Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry. The services will be live-streamed at .
  • Online condolences: Leave condolences for the Marburger family at .
  • Obituary: Find Marburger's obituary .

More coverage of the Perry, Iowa school shooting

'Ahmir was a star:' Biological father of 11-year-old Perry shooting victim wants son's life to bring joy

Perry Boy Scouts have collected thousands of teddy bears for local students

Perry 'somber' days after deadly school shooting

'Trying to make sense out of the senseless': Parents of Perry school shooter Dylan Butler release public statement