>> EVERY NIGHT AND EVERY DAY WE ALL KNOW WHEN WE LIVE IN THIS CITY WE HEAR GUNSHOTS RING OUT.

WE LOSE KIDS EVERY DAY ON THE STREETS.

BUT WE TOOK SOME SOLACE IN THE FACT THAT AT LEAST FOR THE TIME THAT THE KIDS WERE WITH US THEY WERE SAFE, THEY WERE IN THE SAFEST PLACE THAT THEY POSSIBLY COULD BE, AND YESTERDAY THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

>> PUBLIC SCHOOL OFFICIALS DELIVERED EMOTIONAL STATEMENTS ON TUESDAY IN RESPONSE TO THE SHOOTING AT CENTRAL VISUAL PERFORMING ARTS HIGH SCHOOL.

>> NO ONE PREPARED ME FOR THIS PART OF THE JOB.

>> ON MONDAY MORNING 19-YEAR-OLD ORLANDO HARRIS, A FORMER CVPA STUDENT, ENTERED THE SCHOOL WITH AN AR15 RIFLE AND 600 ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION.

WITHIN MINUTES, POLICE ARRIVED AT THE SCHOOL WHERE THEY LOCATED AND EXCHANGED GUNFIRE, KILLING HARRIS.

BUT EVEN WITH HIGH PRAISE FOR THEIR SWIFT RESPONSE, POLICE INTERVENED AFTER HARRIS HAD ALREADY SHOT AND KILLED TWO PEOPLE AND LEFT ANOTHER SEVEN INJURED.

ALEXANDRIA BELL, A 15-YEAR-OLD STUDENT, AND VETERAN P.E.

AND HEALTH TEACHER JEAN KUCZKA WERE THE TWO VICTIMS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES.

FOUR OTHERS WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH GUNSHOT WOUNDS, 30 OTHERS WITH ABRACES OR BROKEN BONESES FROM ESCAPING WINDOWS, AND HUNDREDS ARE NOW LEFT WITH TRAUMA.

>> THIS WAS THE 40TH SCHOOL SHOOTING THIS YEAR.

THIS IS A TREND THAT MUST STOP.

WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO?

>> Reporter: A VIGIL WAS HELD ON MONDAY NIGHT FOR THE VICTIMS.

DOZENS GATHERED AT TOWER GROVE PARK WHERE SOME STUDENTS AND TEACHERS CAME TO SHARE THEIR HORRIFIC EXPERIENCE.

>> I THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING TO DIE RIGHT THEN.

THE SHOOTER WAS IN THE ROOM WITH ME.

I WAS IN MISS KUCZKA'S HEALTH CLASS AND HE WAS IN THE ROOM WITH ME AND HE MADE EYE CONTACT.

>> Reporter: COMMUNITY LEADERS ALSO CAME TO ADDRESS WHAT THEY THINK NEEDS TO HAPPEN NEXT TO PREVENT ANOTHER SCHOOL SHOOTING.

>> WE AIN'T WAIT ON THE WHITE HOUSE, WE CAN'T WAIT ON THE STATE HOUSE, WE CAN'T WAIT ON ANYBODY ELSE, THIS IS ST. LOUIS AND NOBODY WILL CARE ABOUT US THE WAY WE CARE ABOUT US.

>> WELCOME TO "DONNYBROOK" NEXT UP.

WE'RE JOINED BY DR. MICHAEL BROWN, DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES AT ST. LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

MARK ANDREWS, A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RESPONSE.

PATRICE HILL, PARENT OF A STUDENT AT CVPA.

AND EL MA HOLLEMAN, COORDINATOR OF SOCIAL WORKERS FOR SLPS.

I'VE SEEN ALL THAT FOOTAGE BEFORE AND I'M STILL JUST AS SHAKEN AS THE FIRST TIME I SAW IT.

BUT PATRICE, I KNOW IT'S HARD, BUT COULD YOU SHARE WITH US WHAT HAPPENED MONDAY MORNING AND HOW DID YOU LEARN?

>> I HAD JUST COME BACK FROM DROPPING MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER AT HER SCHOOL, AND SAT DOWN, OPENED MY LAPTOP.

I'M SELF EMPLOYED WORKING FROM HOME, AND I RECEIVED A TEXT MESSAGE FROM MY DAUGHTER SAYING THEY'RE DOING THE ACTIVE DRILL.

AND I RESPONDED, YEAH, WE RECEIVED THE E-MAIL, THEY SAID DON'T CALL THE SCHOOL BECAUSE THIS IS HAPPENING.

SO EVERYTHING IS OKAY.

AND SHE SAID OKAY.

IN THE MIDST OF TEXTING WITH HER, MY YOUNGER SISTER FACE-TIMED AND SAID I'M ON FACEBOOK AND THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING AT KENDALL SCHOOL.

I SAID NO IT'S NOT, I REPEATED THE SAME THING.

AND SHE SAID OH MY GOD, I HEAR GUNSHOTS.

SO AT THAT POINT, I SAID, OKAY, TRAINING, I CAN UNDERSTAND, ACTUALLY TRAINING WITH THE SOUNDS OF BULLETS, WE WEREN'T NOTIFIED OF THAT.

SO TEXTED KENDALL BACK, KENDALL, WHAT'S GOING ON?

I DON'T KNOW, SOMEONE PULLED A FIRE ALARM, I HEAR POLICE, I HEAR GUNSHOTS.

OKAY.

YEAH, I NEED FOR YOU TO STAY HIDDEN.

WE'RE ON THE WAY.

AND JUST, DAD WAS AT HOME, HE'S A TRUCK DRIVER, HE WAS OUT IN THE YARD AND I CAME OUT AND SAID WE NEED TO GO NOW, HOPPED IN THE TRUCK GOT TO THE SCHOOL AS FAST AS WE COULD.

LUCKILY, MODERN TECHNOLOGY, SHARED OUR LOCATION, SHE SAID THEY'RE TAKING US OVER TO SNOOKS.

WE GOT OVER THERE, IT WAS JUST MASSIVE MAYHEM BECAUSE THE STREETS WERE CONGESTED, YOU COULDN'T GET ANY FURTHER DRIVING.

PARENTS LITERALLY LEFT CARS IN THE STREETS, ALL DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

AND WE ALL PROCEEDED ON FOOT, WALKING FOR ABOUT TWO BLOCKS, TO GET TO THE NEXT PARKING LOT.

AND WE GOT OUR DAUGHTER AND OTHER PEOPLE WERE UP THERE GETTING THEIR KIDS, FAMILY MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, PARENTS, AUNTS, UNCLES, ANYONE WHO HAD A KID OR FAMILY MEMBER AT THAT SCHOOL WAS THERE.

>> HOW ARE YOU DOING, HOW IS YOUR DAUGHTER DOING?

>> SHE TOLD ME TODAY SHE WAS STILL KIND OF ANXIOUS.

I CATCH MYSELF SOMETIMES ZONING OUT, THINKING ABOUT WHAT MY PLAN WAS FOR THE DAY AND HOW NOW IT SEEMS SO INSIGNIFICANT WITH WHAT HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, TO MY BABY, TO ALL THESE BABIES, TO ALL THESE FAMILIES.

YOU KNOW, IT JUST PUTS THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE.

>> AS FAMILIES ARE DEALING WITH THIS, WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE RIGHT NOW?

>> THE SAFEST WAY FOR FAMILIES OF THESE IMPACTED SCHOOLS, I WOULD SAY PLEASE LEAN ON YOUR RESOURCES.

THE FIRST RESOURCE IS YOUR FAMILY, OR WHOM EVER YOU'RE AT HOME WITH, LEAN THERE FIRST.

AND THEN SEEK COMMUNITY WITH OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES.

AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS BEEN PARTNERING WITH MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES THAT ARE IMPACTED, AND I INVITE YOU TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE AS WELL.

BUT YOUR FIRST RESOURCE IS THOSE CLOSEST TO YOU.

>> BART, IS THERE A NORMAL?

THIS IS SUCH AN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION.

NORMAL IS NOT EVEN THE RIGHT WORD.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS FROM KIDS AND FROM PARENTS?

>> I THINK ANY NORMAL IS IN FACT THE RIGHT WORD.

IT VERY NORMAL FOLLOWING A TRAUMATIC EVENT, AND WHAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED IS A TRAUMATIC EVENT NOT JUST FOR YOUR CHILD BUT FOR YOU.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRAUMATIC EVENTS AND THE DEFINITION OF A TRAUMATIC EVENT INCLUDES PEOPLE WHO DIRECT EXPERIENCED A LIFE THREATENING CRISIS OR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, CLOSE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF SOMEONE WHO EXPERIENCED THAT CRISIS.

SO YOU WERE TRAUMATIZED BY THIS AS WELL.

HERE ARE SOME THINGS WE CAN EXPECT AND SHOULD EXPECT THAT ARE NORMAL.

THERE'S FOUR THINGS THAT WE EXPECT PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE.

WE EXPECT PEOPLE TO HAVE SOME INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS, WHERE THE INCIDENT POPS UP, WHERE YOU'RE GOING ABOUT YOUR DAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S THERE.

WE MIGHT EXPERIENCE AROUND THOSE THOUGHTS, WE MIGHT FEEL SOME DISCONNECTION, LIKE LOSE TRACK OF THINGS.

WE'RE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE SOME AVOIDANCE BEHAVIORS, WE WANT TO AVOID REMINDERS OF THE SITUATION, WE'RE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE NEGATIVE CHANGES IN OUR THINKING AND OUR MOOD.

THAT INCLUDES MEMORY LOSS, CONFUSION, ALSO INCLUDES THOUGHTS LIKE THE WORLD ISN'T SAFE ANY MORE, YOU CAN'T TRUST ANYBODY, NOWHERE IS SAFE.

THIS IS THE NATURAL RESPONSE.

AND FINALLY WE EXPECT TO SEE CHANGES IN OUR AROUSAL LEVELS.

AND WHAT'S COMPLICATED ABOUT THIS IS THAT EVERYBODY IS DIFFERENT, SOME PEOPLE WILL EXPERIENCE AGITATION, WHERE THEY'RE REALLY WORKED UP AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY'RE HYPER VIGILANT.

OTHER PEOPLE WILL LOOK ALMOST THE OPPOSITE, LIKE THEY'RE NOT REACTING AT ALL, THAT THEY'RE CHILLED, BUT THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE SHUTTING DOWN INSIDE.

SO THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT.

THESE ARE ALL NORMAL, NATURAL RESPONSES TO TRAUMATIC EVENTS, IN FACT OUR BOANDZ AND MINDS ARE WIRED TO -- BODIES AND MINDS ARE WIRED TO RESPOND THIS WAY.

WHEN THINGS ARE VERY SEVERE AND DISRUPT OUR FUNCTIONSING OR THEY DON'T GO AWAY, WE EXPECT THESE THINGS TO GO AWAY ON THEIR OWN.

GET KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL, ON SITE AS SOON AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE.

THE LONGER YOU WAIT TO GET THEM BACK INTO THAT ENVIRONMENT, THE MORE IT WILL DELAY THEIR RECOVERY, AND THE RESEARCH ON THIS IS VERY SOLID.

>> DR. BROWN, YOU MENTIONED AVOIDANCE AND I'M SURE THERE ARE SOME CHILDREN WHO WANT TO AVOID SCHOOL.

WE'RE RETURNING TO SCHOOL, WHAT AWAITS THEM AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO WORK WITH THE KIDS, AND DOES EVERY SCHOOL HAVE ON SITE COUNSELORS?

>> RIGHT NOW WE HAVE COUNSELORS IN EVERY SCHOOL IN ST. LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE ALSO HAVE SOCIAL WORKERS THAT COVER THOSE SCHOOLS AS WELL.

RIGHT NOW FOR THE IMMEDIATE WE ARE WORKING WITH THE TWO SCHOOLS, WE HAVE A ONLINE WORK GOING ON WHERE STUDENTS, STAFF AND PARENTS CAN LOG IN TO RECEIVE SOME SORT OF HELP.

WE ALSO HAVE AN IN-PERSON SITE AT STEVENS MIDDLE SCHOOL WHERE WE INVITE THEM IN TO RECEIVE THOSE TYPES OF RESOURCES.

BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S NEXT, BECAUSE THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS, SO THEY'RE GOING TO GUIDE US THREW, THROUGH, LIKE THE C.D.C.

DID DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SO THEY'LL WORKING WITH US TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN STUDENTS RETURN, PROVIDING FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH, BUT ALSO WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IN THE SCHOOL WHEN THEY RETURN, MAKING SURE THAT THE CLEANING AND THOSE THINGS OF THINGS ARE DONE AND MAYBE RESTRUCTURING SOME OF THE AREAS THAT WERE AFFECTED.

>> TALK ABOUT THE TEACHERS AS WELL.

A FRIEND OF MINE WAS JUST OUT VISITING THE FAMILY OF A TEACHER WHO DIED, AND I KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN SUPPORTING NOT ONLY THE TEACHERS BUT THE SCHOOLS.

TALK ABOUT HOW IT IMPACTS THEM AS WELL.

>> SO IT IMPACTS THEM GREATLY.

THE CENTRAL STAFF HAD A CHANCE TO MEET YESTERDAY AT A LOCATION OFF SITE.

WE PROVIDED COUNSELORS AND RESOURCES, THERAPY DOGS AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS, FOR A CHANCE TO GATHER AS A COMMENT.

COLLEGIATE SCHOOL MET THIS MORNING, KIND OF THE SAME THING.

SO JUST PROVIDING THOSE RESOURCES FOR THE STAFF MEMBERS TO REGROUP AND REGATHER THEMSELVES.

WE KNOW THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

SO AGAIN WE'RE LEANING ON THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WHICH DEALT WITH THIS, AND THE OTHER SITUATIONS TO KIND OF GUIDE US THROUGH.

BUT IMMEDIATELY WE'RE JUST PROVIDING THOSE RESOURCES FOR STUDENT, STAFF AND FAMILY, BUT PARTICULAR STAFF AND STUDENTS AT THIS TIME.

>> IS YOUR DAUGHTER AND HER FRIENDS, HAVE THEY COME TOGETHER AT ALL AND DISCUSSED IT?

AND WHAT DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEED, IF YOU HAD TO TELL THE DISTRICT THIS IS WHAT I THINK MY DAUGHTER NEEDS AND THIS IS WHAT I NEED.

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

THE FIRST QUESTION ASKED, I KNOW A FEW OF HER FRIENDS HAVE REACHED OUT TO HER.

HAS SHE MET ANYONE IN PERSON SINCE, NO.

BUT SHE HAS BEEN SPEAKING WITH THEM ONLINE AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND SOME HAVE EVEN TEXTED ME, HEY, HOW IS KENDALL DOING, AND I SAY IT'S OKAY TO CALL, YOU CAN CALL HER.

YOU KNOW, JUST ACTUALLY WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON, IS FOR RIGHT NOW IS OKAY, IT'S NOT OVERBEARING, IT'S NOT TOO INTRUSIVE.

AS I WAS TELLING EVERYONE BEFORE WE CAME ON ARRIVE -- LIVE, ONE OF MY FRIEND SAID HEY GO GET YOURSELF A COFFEE.

SO YES, IT KIND OF GOES TO WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, I FIND MYSELF ZONING OUT A LITTLE BIT.

THEN I HAVE TO COME BACK.

SO, YEAH, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A MINUTE, YOU KNOW.

YOU DON'T SEND YOUR KIDS TO SCHOOL FOR THINGS LIKE THIS, IT'S NOT NORMAL AND IT SHOULD NEVER BE NORMAL.

>> THIS IS FOR ANY OF YOU.

IT DOES FEEL LIKE THE COMMUNITY HAS COME TOGETHER IN THE WAYS THAT IT HAS BEEN DONE, AND YOU HATE TO THINK THIS IS WHAT WOULD CAUSE THAT.

BUT WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THE BROADER COMMUNITY?

>> I'M OVERWHELMED WITH GRATEFULNESS THAT WE DO NOT FEEL ALONE AS A DISTRICT, WE DO NOT FEEL ALONE -- I WAS MEETING EARLIER TODAY WITH LOCAL PROVIDERS AND TO NOTE THAT WE'RE NOT ONLY HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS IN OUR OFFICES AND IN OUR BUILDINGS BUT PEOPLE ALL OVER THE CITY, AND EVEN THE STATE ARE THINKING ABOUT US AND HELPING US TO COORDINATE SERVICES AND FIGURE OUT THE BEST THINGS TO DO FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THE BEST WAYS TO SERVE OUR FAMILIES, IT'S AMAZING.

>> HAVE YOU HEARD FROM OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS?

>> YES.

WE HAD A FEW SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHOW UP ON SITE MONDAY.

THEY SENT SOME OF THEIR SYSTEM SUPERINTENDENTS TO ASSIST US MONDAY.

SO YES, OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, TEXT MESSAGES, E-MAILS, ASKING US WHAT WE NEED.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE OFFERED TO SEND THEIR COUNSELORS AND SOCIAL WORKERS TO US.

SO THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT, WE COULDN'T ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE.

>> AT WEDNESDAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE, INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTING THE F.B.I.

WAS SAYING THAT THERE'S NOT A THREAT, BUT THERE'S AN INCREASED POLICE PRESENCE AT ALL SCHOOLS AND THIS IS NOT JUST IN SLPS.

HE SAID UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S TRAUMA.

SO ARE YOU PASSING THAT MESSAGE ON, LIKE YOU'RE NOT IN DANGER, THERE'S JUST THAT, AND QUITE FRANKLY WHAT HE SAID WAS THERE'S JUST CRAZY PEOPLE OUT THERE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THERE'S INCREASED POLICE VISION AT ALL THESE SCHOOLS.

HOW ARE YOU DEALING WITH THAT?

>> WE ARE.

COLONEL DAVIS WHO REPRESENTS PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAD A MEETING TODAY WITH PRINCIPALS WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT THE DIFFERENT THINGS TO DO, MAKE SURE WE'RE REITERATING THOSE THINGS, AS WELL AS THE POLICE PRESENCE.

WE HAVE OUR OWN SAFETY OFFICERS.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN ASSISTING US AND BEING THERE WHEN WE NEED THEM.

BUT OUR SAFETY OFFICER TEAMS ARE MAKING SURE THAT STUDENTS FEEL SAFE ENTERING THE SCHOOL, AS WELL AS OUR PRINCIPALS.

THEY'VE BEEN WRAPPING THEIR ARMS AROUND OUR ELEMENTARY AND OTHER SCHOOLS.

>> THERE'S SO MUCH ATTENTION BEING PAID NOW, AND SUPPORT, AND IT'S WONDERFUL.

THERE COMES A POINT WITH ANY OF THESE TRAUMATIC EVENTS WHEN THAT'S GOING TO NATURALLY END, AND I'M KIND OF CURIOUS AS TO THE THOUGHTS YOU HAVE ABOUT WHAT THE NEXT STEP, WHEN YOU HIT THAT POINT, AFTER THIS IS GRIEVING AS A COMMUNITY, WHAT DO YOU SEE GOING FORWARD?

WHAT ARE THE THOUGHTS YOU HAVE FOR EVERYBODY TO MAKE THE PIVOT TO BACK TO A MORE NORMAL ROUTINE?

>> SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE, THE, THAT WE GET PEOPLE BACK TO NORMAL.

THE LESS PROLONGED, THE LESS TRAUMATIC THE RESPONSE WILL BE.

THERE WILL BE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE STRONGER REACTIONS THAT MIGHT NEED A DIFFERENT RUN WRAY TO RETURN.

BUT MOST PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO RETURN QUICKLY, IN FACT THE RESEARCH ON THIS, MOST PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIRECT EXPERIENCING A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE DO NOT DEVELOP PTSD.

WHEN WE REALLY RUN INTO PROBLEMS IS WHEN THERE'S A TRAUMATIC EVENT AND THE COMMUNITY RESPONDS LIKE IT THE HAS, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS BEEN AMAZING IN HOW THOROUGH THEY'VE BEEN ON THIS AND WE'RE SO PROUD OF THIS.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT AS PEOPLE MOVE ON AND GET BETTER, THERE'S GOING TO BE A GROUP OF FOLKS THAT DO NOT.

AND BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE IS FEELING BETTER AND ADAPTING BETTER, THEY'RE GOING TO FEEL MORE ISOLATED AND THEY'RE GOING TO STAND OUT TO THEMSELVES MORE, SO THAT'S ONE GROUP WE'VE GOT TO WATCH OUT FOR.

MOST PEOPLE WILL HAVE A TRAUMATIC REACTION THAT WILL RESOLVE ITSELF IN A WEEK TO TWO WEEKS.

SOME PEOPLE IT MAY GO ON FOR A MONTH.

A SMALL GROUP OF FOLKS WILL GO BEYOND THAT MONTH.

ALSO THERE'S PEOPLE THAT HAVE WHAT'S CALLED A DELAYED REACTION.

THEY DON'T HAVE ANY RESPONSE AT ALL AND THEY LOOK TO BE VERY HEALTHY, AND THEN ONCE SAFETY RETURNS THEY'LL HAVE A FULL BLOWN REACTION.

THE PROBLEM WITH THESE FOLKS, THEY HAVE THAT DELAYED REMARKS, ALL THIS LOVE AND SUPPORT AND ATTENTION ISN'T THERE ANY MORE.

SO WE NEED TO PUT PLANS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS ARE AWARE THAT CAN HAPPEN.

ONE OF THE BEST THINGS YOU CAN DO IS PREPARE FOLKS FOR THAT.

HEY, IF THIS HAPPENS TO YOU, BE PREPARED, HERE ARE SOME THINGS TO DO.

IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA A MONTH FROM NOW TO DO ANOTHER ROUND OF DEBRIEFINGS AND OFFER SUPPORT AND REACH OUT TO PEOPLE, BECAUSE THAT MONTH IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT FACTOR, FOLKS ARE REALLY STRUGGLING AFTER A MONTH, THAT'S A GROUP WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO.

>> STUDENTS WHO WEREN'T AT THE SCHOOL, WHO WEREN'T AT CVPA SAYING, SAME PATH AS YOU JUST DESCRIBED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE INDIRECT OR SECONDARY PTSD, IT DOES HAPPEN.

AND YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS, THE SCHOOLS ARE WHERE WE EXPECT OUR KIDS TO BE SAFE.

PARENTS DROP THEIR KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL, AND WE KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO DROP OUR LITTLE KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL AND WE KNOW THE SCHOOL WILL TAKE CARE OF THEM, SO THIS REALLY RUPTURES THAT SENSE OF SAFETY.

HERE'S THE TRUTH.

STATISTICALLY YOUR CHILDREN ARE MORE SAFE AT SCHOOL THAN THEY ARE IN THE CAR WITH YOU.

RIGHT NOW IT MAY NOT FEEL THAT WAY, BUT WE DEAL WITH LOTS OF RISKY SITUATIONS EVERY DAY.

THESE EVENTS -- PEOPLE THINK THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, IT'S NOT.

SO REESTABLISHING THAT SAFETY AND ALSO HELPING THE STUDENTS THAT WERE IMPACTED BY THIS INDIRECTLY, YES, THAT RESPONSE IS NORMAL, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO GET YOU BACK TO SCHOOL AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE THE LONGER WE LET THEM STAY AWAY FROM THAT ENVIRONMENT, THE HARDER IT IS TO GET THEM BACK WHEN WE IMMEDIATE TO -- WHEN WE NEED TO.

>> I SEE YOU NODDING YOUR HEAD.

TALK ABOUT WHAT YOUR NEXT STEPS AS A SOCIAL WORKER ARE, AND TO FOLLOW UP AND NOT ONLY WITH THE KIDS THAT ARE DISPLAYING THE REACTION, VERY UNDERSTANDABLY, BUT ALSO THOSE THAT AREN'T.

>> SURE.

SO WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THE PLANS, TAKING THE RESEARCH, TAKING THE EXPERIENCE AND THE THINGS THAT WE'VE LEARNED TO CREATE A LONGER RANGE PLAN FOR SUPPORT ACROSS OUR ENTIRE DISTRICT.

RIGHT NOW, SO THIS WEEK WE FOCUSED REALLY ON THE TWO MOST IMPACTED BUILDINGS.

ALL OF THE SUPPORT THAT WE OFFERED TO THEM ARE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE NEXT WEEK.

ALSO WE HAVE MANY FAMILIES THAT WERE NOT A PART OF THOSE SCHOOL FAMILIES THAT HAVE ACCESSED THOSE SERVICES, WE TURN NO ONE AWAY.

SO THOSE WILL BE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE NEXT WEEK.

WE'RE CHANGING LOCATIONS, BUT WE ARE NOT CHANGING THE SERVICES, THEY'RE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE, FOR AS LONG -- AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HOW LONG DO WE LET THIS GO.

AS LONG AS WE NEED.

AND WHAT ELSE DO WE NEED TO DO, THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT WE'RE ASKING EVERY DAY.

IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE WE SHOULD DO, IS THERE SOMETHING WE'RE DOING THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE DOING.

SO WE'RE CONTINUOUSLY ASSESSING AND WORKING HARD TO MEET THE NEEDS AND REACHING OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND SAYING HERE'S WHAT I THINK I NEED TODAY, HERE'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE ASKING US FOR.

THIS IS WHAT WE'VE LEARNED TODAY.

IN ADDITION, OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE MEETING WITH EACH OTHER OUTSIDE OF US, AND THERE'S ONE PERSON AT THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH WHO THEN FILTERS THAT INFORMATION BACK TO US, AND SHE AND I HAVE A CONVERSATION.

AND SHE TELLS ME THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IN THE FIELD, AND I TELL HER THIS IS WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING ON THIS SIDE AND THEN WE MAKE A PLAN FOR SOMETIME THIS WEEK, WE THINK WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD PLAN FOR NEXT WEEK.

>> MY DAUGHTER'S TEACHER AT PREMIERE CHARTER SCHOOL IS WITHIN A MILE OF CVPA, IT SHOOK ME, SO I CAN'T IMAGINE BEING A PARENT.

AND COMFORTABLE IS, SEEMS RIDICULOUS RIGHT NOW, BUT ARE YOU READY TO TAKE YOUR DAUGHTER BACK?

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEAK FOR HER, BUT YOURSELF, ARE YOU READY?

>> I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT VERY HARD, BECAUSE SHE WAS SO CLOSE TO WHERE IT WAS.

I BELIEVE THE BIGGEST PART OF WHAT HAPPENED, HAND ON THE THIRD FLOOR, AND SHE WAS ON THE SECOND FLOOR IN ANATOMY CLASS.

SO YOU KNOW, YOU JUST KIND OF THINK ABOUT, THAT'S YOUR CHILD.

BUT I UNDERSTAND ALSO GETTING HER BACK INTO IT.

SO I THINK THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT WE ALL NEED TO HAVE, HER DAD AND I AND HER, BECAUSE IT INVOLVES HER.

TO SEE WHAT SHE SAYS.

>> DR. BROWN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CANNOT BE SAID ENOUGH IS HOW AMAZING THE RESPONSE WAS.

AS A LONG-TIME MEMBER OF THE CALVIN ADAMS FAN CLUB, I CAN REMEMBER A FEW ISSUES IN WHICH THE ST. LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE NOT BEEN APPRECIATED.

HATE TO THINK THAT THIS HAS TO HAPPEN.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AS A PARENT OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL KID I HAVE TO SAY WHEN YOU, UP UNTIL NOW YOU HEAR ABOUT THE SHOOTER DRILLS, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT EXTREMELY OLD PEOPLE DID NOT HAVE TO DO, AND AT FIRST IT'S KIND OF A NOVELTY, NO ONE OPPOSES IT, BUT BOY IT SURE HITS HOME.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'RE GOING TO BE DOING DIFFERENTLY GOING FORWARD?

AND ARE YOU READY AS A DISTRICT TO RECEIVE THESE PRECIOUS CHILDREN AS THEY'RE COMING BACK?

>> GOING FORWARD, OF COURSE, COLONEL DAVIS AS I SAID, THEY'RE REASSESSING EVERYTHING.

WE'RE RECEIVING A LOT OF PRAISE FOR HOW WE HANDLED THINGS, BUT WE'RE ALWAYS THINKING SOMETHING COULD HAVE BEEN DONE BETTER.

SO THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT LOCKS AND MASTER KEYS, SO THEY'RE ON SITE, WORKING TOGETHER TO TRY TO REASSESS WHAT HAPPENED, WHAT COULD WE HAVE DONE.

SO THOSE THINGS ARE TAKING PLACE.

AS FAR AS RECEIVING THE STUDENTS, NO, WE'RE NOT READY.

I'M NOT GOING TO SIT HERE AND TELL YOU SOMETHING DIFFERENT, WE'RE NOT READY TO RECEIVE THEM.

BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE EVERYTHING IN PLACE FOR THOSE KIDS THAT WALK THROUGH THAT DOOR.

WE DON'T WANT THEM TO WALK THROUGH AND HAVE TO WALK BACK OUT.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE LEANING ON THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

TWO YEARS LATER, WE TALKED TO THEM YESTERDAY AND THEY TOLD US THEY'RE STILL ON THE PHONE ONCE A WEEK.

SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND THEY TALKED TO US ABOUT A FEW THINGS ABOUT HOW TO RE-ENTER SCHOOL.

SO WE'RE GOING TO LEAN ON THEM STARTING MONDAY WHEN WE HAVE A MEETING WITH THEM, TO TELL US HOW TO HELP THE STUDENTS RE-ENTER.

BECAUSE NOT ONLY WILL WE DO SOME COSMETIC THINGS TO THE BUILDING, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THAT MAKE SURE THAT MANY TALLY THEY'RE READY, OUR STAFF IS READY TO RECEIVE THEM.

OUR SOCIAL WORKERS HAVEN'T GOTTEN ENOUGH CREDIT, BECAUSE THEY WERE ON SITE.

WE HAD ABOUT 20 OR SO SOCIAL WORKERS, FOR THE KIDS AT THE SNOOKS PARKING LOT AND AT GATEWAY TO RECEIVE THEM.

SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE OUR SOCIAL WORKERS ARE WELL.

WE HAD SOCIAL WORKERS, NURSES AND COUNSELORS READY TO RECEIVE THOSE STUDENTS WHEN THEY WALK THROUGH THAT DOOR TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE OKAY.

SO IT WAS A TEAM EFFORT.

SO ALL OF US HAVE TO BE READY TO RECEIVE THEM.

SO WE'RE GOING TO DO SOME THINGS FOR OUR SOCIAL WORKERS, COUNSELORS AND NURSES AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE READY.

TO ANSWER THE QUESTION ABOUT THEM COMING IN, WE HAVE TO BE SURE WE'RE READY TO RECEIVE THEM.

>> IF I NEED HELP, WHERE DO I REACH OUT TO?

>> DR. MICHAEL BROWN, MICHAEL.BROWN AT SLPS.ORG.

>> JUST REACH OUT TO DR. BROWN.

>> I GOT GOOD NEWS, 314-819-8802, THE YOUTH CONNECTION HELP LINE THANKS THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY -- THAT LINE IS MANNED 24-7.

WE NOT ONLY WILL RESPOND BY PHONE, WE'VE HAD FOLKS ON SCENE ALL WEEK SO FAR.

AND WE DO ONGOING FOLLOWUP.

SO THAT ONE PHONE CALL ISN'T ENOUGH, WE WILL STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOU, MAKE SURE YOU CONNECT WITH SERVICES UNTIL THE CRISIS IS RESOLVED.

THAT'S THE YOUTH CONNECTION HELP LINE, 314-819-8802.

>> WILL THERE BE A VIRTUAL OPTION BEFORE THERE'S AN IN PERSON ONE?

>> STUDENTS WILL RETURN TO VIRTUAL MONDAY, SO THEY WILL START SCHOOL MONDAY, VIRTUALLY.

THEN WE WILL, AGAIN WE WILL COME UP WITH A PLAN BLUE THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

>> SO MUCH DISPLAY OF COURAGE.

THANK YOU.