WINDER, Ga. — Apalachee High School students and staff will soon step back into the classrooms.
Monday will be the school's first open house since the deadly shooting that killed two teachers and two students back on Sep. 4.
Tuesday begins with half-days for two weeks. Then, there will be a fall break. And after that, full days return.
However, some teachers and students are asking Barrow County School District leaders for immediate safety measures before classes start. Graduate Layla Contreras launched a petition to garner support.
11Alive's Tresia Bowles spoke with a teacher who asked to remain anonymous. He said, ahead of Tuesday, the triggers are already showing up.
"I was getting pretty irritated with flashlights and everything all of a sudden -- out of nowhere. I couldn't remember why," he said. "Then, I remembered how there was a light that flashed into me when they came into the room. I think that kind of brought me back there."
He said other educators are banding together to form a letter to district leaders. They're demanding covered therapy expenses and the option not to use their sick days if they're still healing from trauma.
"What considerations did you have in regards to making changes before opening? Or was that even something you guys discussed?" the teacher said.
On the school district's website, they promise extra law enforcement presence and counseling services.
Junior Sasha Contreras said though she feels ready to go back, she wishes more was done for safety.
"It's just barely information has been let out. And it's not really reassuring. It's just, 'Here! We're going back,'" Sasha said.
Sasha said she feels the extra school resource officers aren't enough.
"I think it's more of a precautionary rather than preventative," Sasha said.
Big sister Layla had her back with the petition. She's demanding clear or mesh backpacks, metal detectors, public input, and online learning options.
"My sister was there and so was my mom. So, I felt like there was a need for something to be done," Layla said.
As of Sunday, her petition had more than 1,000 signatures. She calls it "Change for Chee."
"We want clear bags," Layla said. "I think it's important that our teachers and our students feel safe -- not to just feel safe, they should also be safe."
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith is scheduled to provide a statement ahead of the Apalachee open house.
The next school district meeting is Oct. 1.