Olathe East students return after shooting with extra police, therapy dogs, counseling
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Olathe East High School shooting
A shooting at a Johnson County high school injured a school resource officer and an administrator, according to police. The suspect, a student, is in custody.
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Olathe East students returned to school on Monday with an extra police presence, therapy dogs and more counseling services available following Friday’s shooting that left three injured.
As the high schoolers walked in, they were greeted by several parents holding signs of support. They headed to advisory classes for a “soft start to the day,” and had a modified schedule throughout Monday, Principal Kerry Lane said in a message to families on Sunday.
“We have informed our staff that our main priority tomorrow and this week is reestablishing a sense of comfort and safety among our students, so please be assured that all staff will offer grace, flexibility and understanding as it relates to academics, attendance and grades for students.”
Friday’s shooting unfolded after 10:30 a.m., when school resource officer Erik Clark responded to the main office to assist with an administrative matter. Olathe Police said 18-year-old Jaylon Desean Elmore displayed a handgun that led to an exchange of gunfire between the student and Clark.
Elmore, Clark and Kaleb Stoppel, assistant principal and athletic director, were injured. Olathe East High School remained under lockdown until it was safe for students to be reunited with their families.
Elmore was charged Saturday with attempted capital murder after allegedly shooting Clark, court documents said. Bond has been set at $1 million. Clark and Stoppel were released from the hospital on Friday, while Elmore remained in critical condition on Monday.
Some parents said they were uneasy about sending their students back to the school on Monday, feeling that the district should be doing more to beef up safety.
“I cannot believe that no one is talking about what the district is going to do differently to keep our kids safe,” Olathe East parent Nichole Miller told The Star. “I think it’s absurd that there was nothing on the news besides increased police presence. That doesn’t stop the weapons from getting into the school. I am not sending my son to school today because he’s afraid and mentally not able.”
The district has highlighted its current safety protocols, including security cameras in all buildings, radio communication, its school resource officer program, as well as its school entry systems, which require all visitors to be screened before entering.
But officials have so far not addressed tighter measures for the long term, which several parents have said they would like to see.
Superintendent Brent Yeager said in a message to families that the security procedures in place “worked just as they were supposed to in order to prevent something far worse from occurring.”
“In addition to the safety measures currently in place, we have planned for supports at all buildings throughout the district this week. We will have counseling services available to all our students and staff who need extra support, as well as additional law enforcement units visibly present to reinforce a sense of safety and security.”
Lane said that an officer will serve as a full-time interim school resource officer while Clark is recovering.
Yeager added that one of the most crucial safety measures is “the positive relationships between our students, staff and families that provide an open line of communication and safe place for community members to come forward and share concerns when they arise. These trusted relationships allow our district and local law enforcement to react in a timely manner to address concerning situations.”
Yeager said the best thing families can do is talk with their students about reporting concerns to district staff or law enforcement, and help them process any feelings or stress they have after the shooting.
“While we cannot take away the hurt and fear from Friday, I know that as a community we can wrap our arms around one another and heal together,” Yeager said.
A district spokeswoman said that Clark, Stoppel and other district staff will not be doing interviews for now.
“Our priority is giving those involved the space and privacy they need to heal both physically and emotionally, and our superintendent’s and staff members’ priority needs to be supporting our community at this time,” she said.
This story was originally published March 7, 2022 at 10:50 AM.
