MARYSVILLE — In its days of recovery since the school shooting, Marysville-Pilchuck High School and the surrounding community took its next stride by taking apart the memorabilia on the school’s fence south of campus Nov. 24.

Exactly one month since the incident, Public Education coordinator of emergency management Mary Schoenfeldt said now is the time.

It is a crucial step to normalcy.

“It’s the right time. We can get caught up in the moment and leave things up there too long,” Schoenfeldt said. “The process needs to be slow and respectful.”

Students and community members of the community were invited out Nov. 24 too participate in removing the perishable materials on the fence. Those materials would be burned and placed in an urn, and broken glass and other harmful objects would be disposed of.

Schoenfeldt explained that there is a median between the timely removal of a site of remembrance. It could be too soon or too late.

“People may not have had the chance to add to it or work through their own processes,” she said.

The school administration notified families of the Marysville community that their objects of remembrance were going to be removed.

“That is determined by what the situation is initially and by talking to students and listening,” Schoenfeldt said. “Some students may say ‘It’s really difficult for me to come by this fence every day’ or ‘I want my school back.'”

It seemed that most people were of concurrence with the healing process told by Schoenfeldt.

“It’s a good time. People can start healing, it’s been a horrid situation,” resident Jaime Smith said. “For little ol’ Marysville, this is something that will always be remembered.”

But others had different thoughts.

“I think it’s too soon,” M-P freshman Braeden Boyle said, who thought the fence acted as a beacon of hope through the community’s tough time.

Though Boyle thought the materials left on the fence were inspiring, he was hoping it could be kept up a little longer.