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Weston School Students Head Back To Class

Funeral For Principal Held On Wednesday

Posted: 11:07 am CDT October 5,2006

Weston Schools were bathed in blue on Thursday as students in the tiny Sauk County district headed back to class.

videoVIDEO: Watch The Report | videoVIDEO: Listen To 911 Call After Shooting

Thursday was the first day of school since last Friday, when a student allegedly walked in and gunned down principal John Klang.

Klang's sacrifice was front and center Thursday as students wore blue "John Klang is a Super Hero" T-shirts as they returned to school.

Volunteers arrived before the 8 a.m. bell to greet students as they came through the doors at Weston Schools.

School District secretary Jane Huth said that a majority of the school's 370 students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade are back in classes and counselors are on hand for anybody who wants to talk to one. A sheriff's deputy patrolled the parking lot area.

Classes were dismissed early Thursday afternoon for some in-service training for teachers.

Classes resumed a day after Klang's funeral, which was held in the Weston High School gymnasium. About 2,500 people attended the services, including students, staff, family and friends as well as Gov. Jim Doyle.

The Wednesday morning funeral was tilted "A Celebration of Life," but a sense of deep grief and sadness were palpable at the quiet, somber event, WISC-TV reported.

David Wermund, the Weston school board president, said during the funeral that the husband and father of three was a "role model."

Wermund said that Klang was a "real-life hero" who thought about his students first

Wermund said that it was fitting that Klang's last thoughts were of his students in that he allegedly tried to disarm the shooter, WISC-TV reported.

Eric Hainstock, the 15-year-old freshman who is accused of shooting Klang with a pistol, is still being held by authorities on $750,000 bond. He had been charged with first-degree intentional homicide.

According to a criminal complaint, Hainstock said that he was upset with Klang because the principal had disciplined him for having tobacco in the school the day before and teachers hadn't stopped a group of kids who had called him names.

The Sauk County district attorney said that the teenager will be tried as an adult. If convicted, Hainstock could face life in prison.

911 Calls Show Tense Situation

WISC-TV obtained copies of the 911 calls made from Weston Schools Friday morning, and the tapes show the bewilderment of those involved in the situation.

The calls were made at 8:11 a.m. Friday, just after Hainstock allegedly entered the school with two guns and shot Klang three times.

Two calls came in to the Sauk County Sheriff's Department. The first was from custodian Dave Thompson who allegedly disarmed the student of one gun, and the other call was from teacher Chuck Keller who said he was the first person to approach Hainstock.

911 Call One:

  • Sheriff's Department Dispatch: "What is your emergency?"

  • Caller (Dave Thompson): "Weston School District -- we have a kid that came in the high school with a gun."

  • Dispatch: "OK, do you know where he is?"

  • Thompson: "He's up toward the high school by the office. He's got something in his pocket. I don't know if it's a handgun. I took the rifle from him, and I'm down at the kitchen. I'm one of the maintenance guys."

    911 Call Two:

  • Sheriff's Department Dispatch: "Where's (the suspect) right now? Are you calling from the high school office?"

  • Caller (Chuck Keller): "OK, we have the kid. His name is Eric Hainstock."

  • Dispatch: "OK, so you have the offender in custody?"

  • Keller: "Yes."

  • Dispatch: "And do you have his gun?"

  • Keller: "I believe so."

    Keller goes on to calmly say that they aren't sure of the condition of the principal and that a teacher was holding the student on the ground.

    He also said there were many around him that were "very emotional."

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