Grades K-8 Return to School Thursday, No Decision Yet for High School

Town officials say most Danvers Public Schools students (grades K-8) will return to their schools Thursday for a regular day, while high school students and staff will be provided some time to meet with grief counselors.

It hasn't been determined yet whether Danvers High students will return to class on Friday or not.

Schools were initially closed Wednesday morning as authorities investigated the murder of high school math teacher Colleen Ritzer, allegedly at the hands of a student. Philip Chism, 14, is facing a murder charge and will be tried as an adult.

Danvers Police Chief Neil Ouellette and Schools Superintendent Lisa Dana spoke briefly with reporters a press conference Wednesday night, following a student-led vigil outside the high school.

"Today has been a very difficult day for our community. And all the people in attendance here tonight for the vigil is a testimony to the amazing and positive influence Colleen Ritzer had on her Danvers High School students," said Dana.

"Although this is a tragic event, we resolve that as a school we will work together to ensure that Miss Ritzer's legacy is defined not by one day and one person, but by the many lives she impacted during her time as a math teacher at Danvers High School," Dana said. "Our Danvers community is a strong one and our staff and students are kind and resilient."

"As the next few weeks unfold, we will lean on one another for courage and support. It is times like these that define who we are. To our students: be strong students and know that the adults in the community of Danvers are here to support you," she said.

"Colleen dedicated her life to better our town, and our children and our community. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this tragic time," said Ouellette.

"We need to grieve the loss of Colleen, but at the same time we need to begin to return our children to some sense of normalcy," he said, going on to explain the plans for children to return to school on Thursday.

Grades K-8 will return to school at regular times Thursday while Danvers High will be open from 10 a.m. to noon for students and staff to meet with grief counselors. A community meeting for parents of high school students will also be held Thursday (6:30 p.m.) in the field house.

Ouellette said the school district website does have information on grief counseling and suggestions on how to broach those topics with students.

He said local officials should have more information to release at the conclusion of Thursday's meeting in regard to when the high school will reopen.

"Danvers is, and remains, a very safe community with a rich history of coming together to support those in need and in crisis," Ouellette said, adding that the town-wide coalition Danvers CARES works diligently to help local youths make healthy and safe life decisions.

"We have a very safe community and we will work diligently to assist the school department in bringing our students back to the safe learning environments they have come to be accustomed to in the town of Danvers," he said.