Danvers High Opens Doors for Grieving Students, Staff and Parents

Danvers High School was temporarily re-opened again Thursday for two hours to allow students and staff to grieve and meet with counselors.

Parents also accompanied their children to the school, while some students came and went in small groups.

The school has otherwise been closed to the public since authorities launched a murder investigation late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. Math teacher Colleen Ritzer was allegedly killed by one of her students -- 14-year-old Philip Chism.

Local officials said Wednesday night a decision wasn't reached yet on whether to reopen the school on Friday, but another message from the district indicated school would be back in session Friday.

A community meeting for parents will be held in the school field house at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.

That morning, Priscilla Tobey and a friend stopped by the makeshift memorial to pay their respects to Ritzer. They spent a few minutes gathering and placing posters, flowers and stuffed animals that were blown around by the wind.

Tobey said her nephew is a senior at Danvers High and knew Chism through the soccer team. The 18-year-old was actually one of the students who went out looking for Chism Tuesday night when they learned he was missing.

This was before he became the prime suspect in Ritzer's murder -- something Tobey's nephew never would have believed of the reserved but friendly 14-year-old.

"He's very upset with Philip and angry with him," Tobey told reporters.