'Our students should not have to deal with this type of grief,' frustration, grief expressed at DPS Board of Education work session Thursday

The frustrations come in the wake of the death of a 17-year-old Hillside High School student and the hospitalization of another, who were shot Wednesday on the American Tobacco Trail near the high school.

Police have not said why the teens were on the trail during the school day, what led to the shooting or the names of those who were shot.

Hillside High School student dies, another hospitalized after shooting on American Tobacco Trail in Durham

The board started the meeting with a moment of silence for the 17-year-old who lost their life.

For board members, the students should have to worry about this kind of grief.

"Our students should not have to deal with this type of grief," said Bettina Umstead, Durham Public School Board Chair. "Our families, educators and community shouldn't have to deal with that type of grief."

One woman said she saw the teen regularly in the neighborhood of Cornwalis community of Durham.

"This young man had hopes and dreams of what he wanted to be if he had lived," said the woman, who wished to remain anonymous. "That didn't happen."

Hillside High was on alert for the second straight day after police responded to a tip regarding weapons being stored in the nearby woods.

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Some school board members say it's disrupting the student's ability to learn.

"This is not a way for our children to learn," said Jovonia Lewis, a member of the school board. "Too man distraction and we do have to come together as a community to take care of these children."

One parent who spoke to board members said there's a lot of work to do in order to advance safety and wellness.

"There is a solution to the problem, but if we're not talking to our children, we're not going to get that solution because these adults don't know what they need," said Andrea Muffin, who spoke at the session.

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Several solutions proposed to tackle this matter included mental health resources.

Some students asked for a way to promote better gun storage, and responding to student needs outside the classroom.