'Being back in school will help us realize that life does go on,' 11th-grader says, as kids get ready to finish year at Chatfield

By Manny Gonzales and Brian Weber
Denver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writers

Jennifer DeSpain was in the middle of a math test when the shooting started.

And Andrea Elsner had 28 lines of Shakespeare's Macbeth left to learn.

Both 11th-graders head back to school today, joining more than 2,000 Columbine High School classmates and teachers who will finish the learning cut short by terror nearly two weeks ago.

"I can't wait to get back to see my teachers and my friends," DeSpain said. "Being back in school will help us realize that life does go on."

As police investigators continue to search Columbine's halls for answers, students and teachers will move to new digs at nearby Chatfield High School.

Security has been increased at Chatfield, but district officials won't reveal specifics.

That won't be the only difference these last weeks of school, which ends May 27. Officials plan to let Columbine students determine their academic course the rest of the year. They expect many classes to discuss the tragedy, to try to make sense of events and to heal.

"One of the things we've learned from these situations is that when you don't answer questions right after an event, problems can continue for months and even years after," said Pia Escudero, a psychiatric social worker for the Los Angeles school district.

Chatfield students will split the day with Columbine and begin class at 7 a.m., finishing at 12:10 p.m. Columbine students start at 12:50 p.m. and finish at 6 p.m.

The students will have seven 40-minute periods and no lunch hour. They can snack during the five-minute periods between class. Students won't be allowed to leave the campus.

"We need to be back together to get through this," Stephanie Hommel said. "It'll be nerve-racking though."

Superintendent Jane Hammond said the school will work with students who don't want to return to class. They may transfer to another Jefferson County school that has space.

Hammond said she expects seniors to complete their work for graduation May 22.

The daily switch won't be simple.

For instance, there's not enough parking for teachers and kids from both schools. Chatfield people won't all leave at once to free space when Columbine starts, so Chatfield teachers are parking at a King Soopers about three-quarters of a mile away.

"We are overwhelmed by the sacrifices they've made," said Columbine special education teacher Rudy Martin.

Hammond said she plans to reopen Columbine on time next fall.