LITTLETON — Investigators worked to build three-dimensional models of Columbine High School's rooms on Thursday, skirting overturned desks, knapsacks and other belongings left as students and staff fled during the deadly shooting attack.

The models, being created by federal agents, will depict every room and the school itself, which was damaged in the rampage that left 15 dead, including two student gunmen.

Bomb squad members have finished their work inside the school and have recovered nearly 60 bombs during the past two weeks from the school and the homes of gunmen Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, said sheriff's spokesman Troy Gardalen.

Authorities plan to maintain the school as a crime scene at least until the end of the month to ensure investigators have all the evidence they need before it is returned to school district control, Gardalen said.

In a related development, President Clinton plans to meet with Columbine students and their parents on May 20 in Littleton to discuss the attack.

He also plans to conduct a White House strategy session Monday with representatives of the Internet and entertainment industries, the gun lobby, government and the clergy to build a national movement against youth violence.

Harris and Klebold strode into Columbine at lunchtime on April 20, scattering bombs and gunfire, killing 12 students and a teacher and wounding 23 others before committing suicide.

Investigators are attempting to determine if the teen-agers had help in planning or carrying out their attack.

Meanwhile, Jefferson County School District officials are scrambling to come up with up to $50 million to pay for costs associated with the massacre, from counseling services to increased security.

The district may boost classroom size and fees or cut some programs to make up for a budget shortfall projected between $3 million and $12 million.

"The district had financial issues well before the April 20 tragedy," said district spokesman Rick Kaufman. "We had planned to announce a number of possible budget cuts on April 21, but the Columbine tragedy added to the district's financial concerns, and as you know, there's no way you can budget for a tragedy of this sort."

Administrators have been promised about $2 million in state and federal aid. The state Board of Education is considering adding $600,000, and district officials look to a variety of other agencies and businesses for help.

School Board President Jon DeStefano said they probably will not have a good idea of how much the attack will add to the district's financial burden until August or September.

Sandra Stemmler, who has three children in Jefferson County schools, said she realized the cuts are necessary.

"I think the Legislature should have given them at least some money,'  she said. "Hopefully this is a once-in-a-lifetime tragedy, and we can get this taken care of."

Dexter Meyer, a Jefferson County Education Association spokesman, predicted the attack would have a big impact on spending for the next three years, especially for mental health counseling and physical rehabilitation for students.

"This has been the experience in Oklahoma City from the bombing, and from the shootings in Arkansas and Paducah, Kentucky. The school district will have to pay for most of that," he said.

May 7, 1999

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