PIKE COUNTY -- For the first time in almost a week, students in the Wallenpaupack Area School District were in class Monday.
Buses and students returned to Wallenpaupack Area High School in Pike County, not far from where one state trooper was shot to death on September 12 and another was seriously wounded.
The district was closed for several days last week while police searched for accused killer Eric Frein. On Monday, the school district re-opened.
Tyler Dodd came to school Monday morning, then had second thoughts. He called his mother to come and get him.
"They're saying he's not in the immediate area, but no killer is going to go back to there where they live, and if there's all these cops around here and stuff, obviously, they think he's around here somewhere," said Dodd.
Dodd is not alone. According to Wallenpaupack Area School District officials, 30 percent chose to stay home, more than 20 percent above normal.
Absences this week are excused.
In spite of everything going on here in Pike and in neighboring Monroe County, the superintendent says there's extra security, and he hopes everyone feels safe.
"In my 36 years, I've never had to deal with something like this," said Superintendent Michael Silsby. "This is not something you learn in grad class. This is something you have to learn and experience to have the day by day decision-making process, trying to balance the issue of safety for our kids."
Silsby says the decision to reopen was made after consulting with police. The Pike County sheriff is part of the safety team here, which includes sheriff's deputies, plus state police, local police, and Wallenpaupack Area school resource officers.
"The kids have been really positive, waving and happy to see us, and we got a lot of great comments this morning from parents, coming up to the patrol car and said they really appreciate us being here," said Sheriff Philip Bueki.
The sheriff called it an honor to help law enforcement officers and help things return to normal in the Wallenpaupack Area School District.