Greenville Co. Schools takes action to help students and staff after fatal shooting

GREENVILLE COUNTY, SC (WSPA) – Students at Tanglewood Middle School receive help dealing with the aftermath of a deadly school shooting.
Greenville County Schools sent a summary on Tuesday of what happened and how they are working to help their students.
“Now he is dead and too many people are injured, some are traumatised. Some people saw how it happened,” said a Grade 7 student 7NEWS spoke to.
Tanglewood Middle has been filled with additional advisers since the tragedy last week.
“We’re talking about school counselors, school psychologists, people in our social work department, as well as our partners at Greater Greenville Mental Health,” Tim Waller said.
Tim Waller, a spokesman for the school district, said they are taking action with what they call their “tracking team.”
“We recognize that after a horrific tragedy, like what we saw there at Tanglewood Middle on Thursday, that many people, young and old, from students to staff, are going to have real needs,” Waller said. .
Additional support is for both students and staff. Waller said they dedicated Monday’s first period to counselors talking with each class. He said these professionals will continue support for as long as needed.
“We don’t want to leave anyone there, we want them to feel safe, we want to create that atmosphere of safety,” he said.
Just because students get help at school doesn’t mean they don’t need it at home.
“When the parent can tell, I know it was a bad situation. I know none of us are equipped for this, but I want you to know that I am here to protect you,” said Dr Roger Rhoades.
Dr Rhoades, a licensed professional counselor, said parents need to guide their children.
“They have to be observant. They don’t need to screw it up or think the school will take care of it,” he said.
Dr Rhoades said it is important for parents to let their children know they are there to protect them.
“These kinds of issues that come up make them feel unsafe. So, now they look at their parents and say, wait a minute, where are we? They are lost,” Dr Rhoades said.
If your child needs more support, Dr. Rhoades said parents need to work with the professionals, as a team.
In the district report, the suspect and victim knew each other, but the motive is still under investigation.
The student killed was 12-year-old Jamari Jackson.
His funeral will be held at Relentless Church on April 9 at 2:00 p.m.
It will be open to the public and visits will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. A memorial fund has been established at the Bank of Travelers Rest.