Weston School teachers and staff say thank you

By Lisa Arneson
on behalf of the
Weston Teachers Association and
Weston Education Support Staff

The school shooting that shook Weston on September 29, 2006, impacted schools across the entire state of Wisconsin and beyond. In a matter of minutes, a 15-year-old student entered the main doors of the building with a gun,was disarmed of one weapon by a custodian, and fatally shot Principal John Klang with a second gun he had hidden in his pocket. Following a lockdown and evacuation, a media frenzy, and nationwide attention, this small, rural Wisconsin school with 355 students ranging in age from 4 to 18 will never be the same.

Much has been said about this incident, but we thought it was time for the staff at Weston to tell our story. It is one of grief and sadness juxtaposed with hope and optimism.

John Klang

First of all, there is not a day that goes by that the events of September 29 don’t enter our minds. Plain and simple,we lost a good man. Good administrators, really good ones, are hard to come by. John Klang was someone who was supportive of teachers and our daily mission to help and teach kids. He was fair and approachable and very down to earth. His violent death is completely at odds with his kind, even-tempered nature. We miss him.

Not only did we lose a good man, but the way in which he was taken from us is a huge loss as well, in many ways.We lost a student in the accused shooter, and who knows what will become of him? We lost the feeling of safety and security in our building. Our students lost their innocence and sense of well-being. In addition, the finger pointing, attacks and accusations that were flung our way are a huge loss to educators everywhere.

But we go on, and amazingly, it seems that life is designed to bring about positives in every situation. It is with misty eyes that we remember the huge outpouring of support from schools across the state.You can never know how much your thoughts and prayers, cards, flowers, money, food, treats, and many other thoughtful gifts meant to us. They really did make us feel better – sometimes just enough to get us through the day without falling apart.

Many others have since done phenomenal things for our staff and students, as well, and they deserve mention. Governor Jim Doyle and First Lady Jessica Doyle graciously invited our entire school to the Governor’s Residence for a visit. They were there to personally greet students and staff and pose for pictures. The Overture Center in Madison called out of the blue with a special invitation for our students to see “A Christmas Carol.” It was an outstanding performance much enjoyed by all. And Cascade Mountain invited our entire school to ski, snowboard, and tube for a day in February. These very generous activities went a long way for students and staff to feel special and cared for.

The sacrifice that John Klang made for all of us will never be forgotten. We are in the process of planning a memorial in his honor that will be placed outside of the school. A large part of this project was donated by the Krause Monument Company in Reedsburg and we have raised the rest through fund-raising. Community support has been wonderful, and we have met our goal. The Daze Street Ball Crew from Madison even donated a basketball show for us to help with this endeavor. Again, people have been amazingly generous.

Another project that we have started is a special scholarship in memory of John Klang. We’re calling it the John Klang Superhero Scholarship. A schoolwide committee involving both union and non-union members is working to raise funds to award scholarships to Weston students, both now and in the future.This scholarship is separate from the John Klang Memorial Scholarship that will be awarded by his family. Limited scholarship funds for our students was a big concern for John, and he often stated how he wished there was more money out there for Weston kids.We think he would be happy with our efforts in his name.

Plans for the John Klang Superhero Scholarship involve fundraising efforts, and those plans helps us get through the day seem to be cathartic for the staff members involved. It helps to do something positive. John was a huge golf fan, and a golf outing is scheduled for June 18, 2007, at the Reedsburg Country Club. This should be a day of fun on the links with several celebrities joining us. Everyone is welcome to attend. For more information, please contact Corey Brunett at brunettc@weston.k12.wi.us.

Another project that is in the works for the scholarship is a cookbook. Titled “Cooks from the Classroom,” this will be a compilation of recipes from students and staff, and it will even include some of John Klang’s favorites. Our goal is to have the cookbook available for sale by Mother’s Day. Keep your eye on the Weston Web site at www.weston.k12.wi.us if you are interested in ordering.

As the days go by, many of us continue to struggle, and some days are better than others. Experts warned us that the trauma from the events surrounding September 29 might resurface in six months, and they were right. Just when many of us thought we were through the worst, emotions come back to strangle us.

We do our best to continue to teach, inspire, and guide the students at Weston, but some days it is a chore just to get up and come to school. Our current administration has been a phenomenal support, and many staff offer comfort to each other.We hold meetings as a forum for people to share feelings, and there are some who have sought professional help.

As for the future, it is uncertain. The legal issues surrounding the prosecution of the alleged shooter loom over us. There are questions as to whether the student will be waived into juvenile court. If that is the case, he could be back in society at age 25. We have been told that it could take up to two years for this case to come to trial, which just prolongs closure for everyone involved. Every update on the case swiftly brings September 29 back into sharp focus, and watching the strength and tenacity of Sue Klang as she pursues justice is both heartbreaking and humbling.

We are very thankful to have such a strong and dedicated administrative team. Terry Milfred came out of retirement to help us in the days following September 29. Melissa Nigh willingly left her classroom when she was asked to assume the principal role. Both have done an exemplary job. Add to the mix Tom Andres, who took over for Terry Milfred in February, and it is clear that we are lucky indeed. Our future leadership, though, remains in question as the decisions for next year have yet to be made. That causes additional stress for many staff members as we look into the future and wonder if this inspiring leadership team will remain a part of Weston.

These and other questions remain unanswered, but it is important that we focus on the positives because it is easy to get lost in the negatives.

Thank you again to all of you who showed your support so brilliantly. Our district is planning an appreciation reception for April 15 for everyone who came to Weston to help in so many ways. You can contact huth@weston.k12.wi.us for more details. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we travel toward healing and closure. We are strong, and we will get through.

Posted March 25, 2007