Walking through sea of condolences in hallways of Chardon High School

CHARDON, Ohio - As the doors opened for the first time to the media, there stood the man who has become the spokesperson for the Chardon community. School superintendent Joe Bergant has been in charge of the school system for 7 years. Needless to say, this year has been the toughest yet.

"I need to keep my strength and composure for the district," Bergant said as he was surrounded by thousands of letters, cards, and posters glued to the walls of Chardon High School.

[WEB EXTRA: Photo gallery of cards, banners, letters on Chardon HS walls, lockers]

It was in those minutes Bergant began to reflect on the tragedy that happened on Feb. 27 just before 8 a.m. when alleged gunmen TJ Lane shot and killed Daniel Parmertor, Demetrius Hewlin, and Russell King Jr. in the school cafeteria.

"When you stop and really think about it, I think about my own family. My daughter and my son and what would I do if this tragic thing happened to them?"

Bergant said there were lots of requests from the media and the community to come inside the school. Those requests were denied because he and others thought it was too soon. At the advice of post-traumatic stress counselors, the decision was made to allow the public into the school after their spring recess. Allowing people inside the school, Bergant feels, is part of the healing process.

"As we move forward, we are trying to restore our learning environment," Bergant explained.

As what Bergant calls the "new normal," many of the letters of sadness and encouragement will be coming down soon. But the decision isn't coming without mixed reaction. Some want the condolences, cards and banners to stay glued to the walls and lockers; others want them down so the school can "move on."

"It's a reminder. That reminder will never go away. In dealing with some of the post-traumatic stress, people say we should start to slowly take things down at some point in time and scrapbooking the cards and putting them in small confined places."

The public walked inside the school around 3 p.m. The media wasn't allowed to talk to them on school property. School officials felt, for some, the feelings are still too raw.

"It certainly gives you a lump in your throat on this horrible thing that happened. I wish it on no one."