Community's Discussion on Sandy Hook Fate Continues Tonight

Newtown officials will continue the ongoing discussion Friday night about what to do with the Sandy Hook Elementary School building in the wake of the Dec. 14 shooting that took the lives of 20 children and six adults -- and once again, community members are welcome to join the conversation.

The discussion will take place in Newtown High School's lecture hall from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. As with Sunday's community meeting, First Selectman Pat Llodra and other town and school officials, including members of the Legislative Council and Board of Education, will be in attendance.

Sunday's forum revolved around the possibility of ever allowing children to return to the elementary school. Some parents said their children were in favor of coming back someday, and some former students agreed.

"If you were to knock the school down, we'd be preventing future children from experiencing the same memories," said NHS student Mergim Bajralin, who attended Sandy Hook Elementary School. "I don't think one psychopath, who I refuse to name, should be able to ruin this for us."

Other parents said their children could never go back.

"My wish would be to knock it down and have some sort of a memorial, and have the Sandy Hook children be together in another school," said Sandy Hook parent Stephanie Carson.

Other voices have called for the building to be used for a variety of purposes -- from a senior center to a peace institute -- and parents have used the opportunity to firmly oppose redistricting that could tear Sandy Hook parents apart. (The Newtown Board of Education responded to concerns Tuesday with a resolution promising to do everything possible to keep Sandy Hook families together.)

Meanwhile, the school remains closed as Sandy Hook students attend Chalk Hill School in Monroe.