Barrow County begins school year with $2M security upgrade

Students return to Apalachee High School

Students returned to Apalachee High School on Friday, nearly one year after a deadly school shooting left four people dead and nine others injured. The start of the new school year comes with heightened emotions for families still grappling with the tragedy.

BARROW COUNTY, Ga. - The first day of school in Barrow County is on Friday. The school year starts with the echoes of a mass school shooting last year at Apalachee High School.

Students are expecting to be met with heightened security.

Apalachee High shooting

The backstory:

In September 2024, a student opened fire at the Winder high school, killing two fellow students and two teachers and injuring nine others. In response, the state enacted House Bill 268 effective earlier this year, requiring a statewide database to identify potential threats and tools for faster transfer of student records when they enroll in new schools.

Colt Gray is accused of opening fire using a "black semi-automatic AR-15 style rifle" inside the high school’s J hall during the second period of class on Sept. 4, 2024. Two teachers, 39-year-old Richard Aspinwall and 53-year-old Cristina Irimie, and two students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, were killed. Nine others were injured.

New school safety measures in Barrow County

The new school year is starting in Barrow County with more safety measures in place in hopes to prevent another deadly act of violence on campus.

Barrow County Schools new security

What we know:

Barrow County school leaders have detailed how the district is implementing the law. Safety enhancements at Apalachee High School include installation of weapons detection systems and classroom telephones, better mapping for law enforcement, and expanded funding for mental health support staff. An anonymous threat‑reporting system has been launched, and the existing 24/7 tipline has been upgraded to ensure rapid response to any concern.

The district is also digitizing the transfer of student records to comply with the law’s requirement for quicker communication between schools when students move between districts. Additionally, the Barrow County Board of Education has now committed to funding roughly $2 million to fully cover salaries and benefits for school resource officers, ensuring continued law enforcement presence on all campuses despite the county withdrawing prior support.

School officials say these measures are intended to reassure families and reduce the chance of any future tragedy. With students preparing to return to class tomorrow, officials emphasize that the layered security approach is in place to support a safer school environment.

What they're saying:

Ivía Carter, the parent of an Apalachee High School junior, said she felt reassured by the safety steps taken by the school district as students returned to class. "I feel confident that they're going to put in the measures to keep the kids safe," Carter said. "I felt really good and positive about her going back today."

Carter noted that school leaders have worked to make the first day back as positive as possible, including the approval of more campus resource officers. "That’s going to help us feel a lot more safer," she said. While her daughter was a little nervous, Carter said they got through it. "The kids were excited to be back, but of course the parents were nervous."

Court appearance for Colin Gray 

What's next:

The father of the accused Apalachee High School shooter is set to appear in court on the same day classes begin in the county.

Prosecutors accuse Colin Gray of allowing his 14-year-old son, Colt Gray, access to guns despite knowing he was a danger before the shooting happened.

Last month, his trial date was postponed over scheduling issues with his defense team.

The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.