Huffman High School was open today, but only about 150 of the school’s 1,300 students returned. The school was closed Thursday following the death of 17-year-old Courtlin Arrington. She was shot and killed in a classroom Wednesday at 3:40 p.m. Another student, 17-year-old Michael Jerome Barber, has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the death.
School officials say about 150 counselors, pastors, nurses and district staff were at Huffman Friday to greet students and offer support. There was also increased security inside and outside of the building.
In a prepared statement, Birmingham City Schools’ Superintendent Lisa Herring said: “We planned that today would be a day of comfort and care for students, and not a day of instruction.”
“We recognized that returning would be difficult for our students, and our crisis team will be back Monday, and for as long as students need our support,” she said.