ST. LOUIS — Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience (CSMB) students walked a red carpet into school Monday morning for the first time since the deadly shooting last month at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School (CVPA), which shares a campus, and were greeted by administrators and teachers alongside balloons and signs.

What You Need To Know

  • All CSMB staff have returned in person and a schoolwide survey indicates 90% of students are expected to return in person and 10% to remain virtual, according to CSMB Principal Frederick Steele

  • Building repairs at CVPA still need to be completed before students and staff can return, according to George Sells, director of communications for St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS). He said the goal is to have CVPA students and staff back in person by January

  • Damages to the CSMB building have been repaired with reinforcements on some windows and doors

  • Steele said more officers and armed officers are on site, as well as several forms of therapy and counseling are available

  • Virtual learning will remain an option for the rest of the semester for students who are not comfortable returning in person

On Oct. 24, police say a former student entered CVPA and killed a 61-year-old teacher and a 15-year-old student, and injured others.

Building repairs at CVPA still need to be completed before students and staff can return, according to George Sells, director of communications for St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS). He said the goal is to have CVPA students and staff back in person by January.

CVPA students began virtual instruction Nov. 14 and CSMB students returned virtually for seven school days before the Thanksgiving break.

All CSMB staff have returned in person and a schoolwide survey indicates 90% of students will return in person and 10% to remain virtual, according to CSMB Principal Frederick Steele.

“It’s been five weeks, so we’re all itching to be back together, especially the socialization, seeing friends and learning together,” he said.

“We know it’s going to be kind of a challenging day, but we have a good plan in place and a lot of support.”

Steele added that the hope is to try to have as much of a normal day as possible “with plenty of time and space to be sensitive, to watch each other and to listen to each other.”

The school district’s trauma partners have trained CSMB staff and SLPS central office staff have been researching in preparation for the return, according to Steele.

Damages to the building have been repaired with reinforcements on some windows and doors.

Steele said more officers and armed officers are on site, as well as several forms of therapy and counseling are available.

“We feel like we have been really supported and well informed to prepare for today,” Steele said.

The hallways are filled with supportive signs made by St. Louis area schools and CSMB students had a chance to enjoy Krispy Kreme donuts that were donated.

All CSMB students will have early dismissal this week.

Virtual learning will remain an option for the rest of the semester for students who are not comfortable returning in person.