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DeAngelis given OK by district's attorneys
By Holly KurtzDenver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer
Columbine Principal Frank DeAngelis will recount Thursday what he's been telling the media, the community and the world for the past few months. DeAngelis will tell the Governor's Columbine Review Commission about his actions April 20, 1999, the day 15 people were shot dead and more than 20 injured at his school. DeAngelis says he's also considering presenting suggestions on how to better handle school crises. DeAngelis' willingness to testify contrasts with Jefferson County Sheriff John Stone and several SWAT team members, who canceled their appearances before the commission after lawyers advised against it. DeAngelis agreed to testify this spring. This summer, several families added him to their list of defendants. The principal met with the school district's attorneys this week to make sure it would still be OK to testify. "It's certainly all right for him to testify about things he knows about," school district attorney Susan Schermerhorn said Tuesday. "The facts are the facts, and that's not going to change." Schermerhorn plans to be present during DeAngelis' testimony. DeAngelis said that most of what he says will not be new to commission members, who accompanied him on informal school tours in June. The tour sparked commissioners to invite the principal to make a more formal presentation to their group. "I feel very comfortable doing that," DeAngelis said. "Hopefully, I can provide some information, some help." August 23, 2000
Columbine Principal Frank DeAngelis will recount Thursday what he's been telling the media, the community and the world for the past few months.
DeAngelis will tell the Governor's Columbine Review Commission about his actions April 20, 1999, the day 15 people were shot dead and more than 20 injured at his school.
DeAngelis says he's also considering presenting suggestions on how to better handle school crises.
DeAngelis' willingness to testify contrasts with Jefferson County Sheriff John Stone and several SWAT team members, who canceled their appearances before the commission after lawyers advised against it.
DeAngelis agreed to testify this spring. This summer, several families added him to their list of defendants.
The principal met with the school district's attorneys this week to make sure it would still be OK to testify.
"It's certainly all right for him to testify about things he knows about," school district attorney Susan Schermerhorn said Tuesday. "The facts are the facts, and that's not going to change."
Schermerhorn plans to be present during DeAngelis' testimony. DeAngelis said that most of what he says will not be new to commission members, who accompanied him on informal school tours in June.
The tour sparked commissioners to invite the principal to make a more formal presentation to their group.
"I feel very comfortable doing that," DeAngelis said. "Hopefully, I can provide some information, some help."
August 23, 2000
