Feb 23, 2006 4:44 pm US/Central
Red Lake Principal On Medical Leave
Minneapolis (AP) ―
Red Lake High School Principal Chris Dunshee, who became the face of the district after a student went on a shooting rampage last year, has gone on medical leave.
Dunshee, 58, has been out since the end of last month. He said Thursday his cardiologist suggested he take some time off. Dunshee also said he had been seeing a therapist and that some of his health issues may be related to post-traumatic stress.
It's not the first time Dunshee has had health issues since the attack. He suffered a mild heart attack about a month after the shootings and was hospitalized briefly.
He said his situation will be reassessed in April and he intends to return to work.
It's been 11 months since 16-year-old Jeff Weise killed a teacher, a security guard and five students at the school before killing himself. Earlier that day, Weise killed his grandfather and his grandfather's companion.
Dunshee was in a board meeting when Weise began his attack, but raced to the school as shots were still being fired. After receiving an all-clear, he went to the area where the shooting happened and saw the carnage.
"After last spring the doctor had told me that he couldn't advise that I return there (to the school)," he said. "I guess I didn't really see much of a problem with it and I did try to go back a couple of times. ... I finally believed him."
He said he feels like he is letting others down, but realized he needed to take care of himself before he can help students.
"It doesn't make me feel much better about things," he said. "Of course not being there I feel like I'm abandoning the ship a bit."
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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