Security tight as La Loche high school students return to class

The front doors of the Dene High School in La Loche remain boarded up, but students are returning to class Friday morning just over a month after a deadly shooting at the school.
 
There is security in place as well as an RCMP resource officer. Holly Toulejour said the community first asked for an officer when she was on the La Loche town council 10 years ago.

“It’s really sad. It’s a shame it took this tragedy for them to commit to that position and I hope it’s a permanent position,” she said.

The school’s principal said their focus right now is to get students back into the flow of regular classes. To help with that, a dozen extra staff members are being brought in to ease students back into a routine. Grief counsellors will also be on hand.

Satellite classrooms are available for students who have a hard time being inside the building.

Richard Craft has twins who attend the high school. He said he feels good about the changes made since the shooting that killed four people, including teacher Adam Wood and teacher’s aide Marie Janvier.

“Everything’s good here now. The situation is well under control and we shouldn’t have that problem again.”