Classroom where gunman opened fire at UNCC will not be used next school year

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — UNC Charlotte Chancellor Philip Dubois announced that the classroom where a gunman opened fire, killing two students, will not be used in the upcoming school year.

He said the Niner Nation Remembrance Commission held its first meeting on Wednesday.

[FULL COVERAGE: UNC Charlotte tragedy]

“The space in Kennedy where the tragedy occurred will not be used for any purpose for the upcoming academic year (2019-2020). I will await the Commission's recommendations for the future of the space before making any final decisions," Dubois said in a message sent home to students, faculty and families.

The building is still in use, but the classroom is closed.

[RELATED: 'I got shot': Student survivor opens up about UNCC shooting for first time]

Thursday marks one month since the shooting inside the Kennedy building on campus. Two students, Riley Howell and Reed Parlier, were killed. Four others were hurt.

Some students said they avoid even walking by the building.

"It kind of made me a little scared to come back to school," student Tia Jeffries said.

Jeffries said she has thought about the shooting every day.

"Just a lot of emotions," Jeffries said.

Dubois said officials with the school’s counseling and psychological services, safety and security department and the Dean of Students Office will work to put together a training plan for faculty and staff before students return to class.

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“We want to fully support our faculty and staff so that, in turn, they have the capacity to fully support our students,” Dubois said.

There will also be more safety training offered in the fall.

"We have shared a wide range of experiences and emotions, tragedy and grief, compassion and support, resiliency and recovery,” Dubois said.

Dubois said internal and external reviews of the school’s response to the shooting are still underway.

"It could be very painful to be back in that room," student Lieke Janssen said.

Cox Media Group