ATLANTA — Georgia School Superintendent Richard Woods released a statement on Monday in the wake of the deadly Apalachee High shooting.
In the statement, Woods is calling for additional security measures at schools across Georgia.
"As we reflect on the tragedy at Apalachee High School, it is crucial that we redouble our efforts to secure our schools and protect every student in our state," Woods wrote in part.
Woods said he would advocate for the state budget to include more funding for school safety in the upcoming legislative session, including having a school resource officer and a crisis alert system in every school in the state.
"Building on the strong commitment to school safety displayed by Governor Kemp and the General Assembly in previous sessions – including the addition of line-item funding for school safety in 2024 – these are common-sense measures that will increase the security of schools throughout our state. There is also early evidence they made a difference at Apalachee," he added in the letter.
Woods said he also wants to develop a clear school safety plan in collaboration with local law enforcement, emergency management teams, SROs, and the crisis alert system.
"As safety begins with being proactive as well, I will also request the expansion of Georgia’s APEX mental health program in schools and to enact policies that support more timely and effective sharing of reports, records, and alerts among law enforcement, school districts, and across agencies," he added. "I am confident that, working together, we can achieve this for Georgia students in the upcoming session."
More on the Apalache High School shooting
On the morning of Sept. 4, lives were forever changed at Apalachee High School in Barrow County.
On that day, the GBI said at 10:20 a.m., the Barrow County Sheriff's Office received alerts about reports of an "active shooter."
During a news conference later that day, the GBI said two students and two teachers were killed in the shooting.
The victims were identified by the GBI as the following:
The GBI also identified the accused shooter as Colt Gray, who is a student at Apalachee High School. Colt Gray is facing four counts of felony murder in connection with the shooting and will be tried as an adult. The GBI said additional charges are expected.