Schools open late after new shooting

Classes started late at Blair today after a new shooting prompted police to close major roads, preventing students and staff from arriving on time. Students were kept in the SAC until after the first period bell rang and staff members were posted at exits.

When the period began, approximately a fourth of the teaching staff was in the building. Blair Boulevard was opened to relieve congestion shortly after the 7:17 a.m. bell rang.

Principal Gainous announced at the end of first period that students were still arriving and that passing period would be put off. According to Vice Principal Patricia Hurley, students will not be penalized for arriving late or missing school today. "There were roadblocks all over the county," she said, "use some common sense."

A RideOn bus driver was shot on the top step of his bus at about 6 a.m. in Aspen Hill, immediately raising concerns about the recent string of sniper shootings in the area. He was rushed to Suburban Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition, taken into surgery, and has since died.

Police quickly locked down the Capitol Beltway and other major roads in the area, preventing students and staff from getting to the building. Many school buses were stuck on the Beltway offramp for a half-hour or more; some buses simply gave up and dropped students off at their bus stops again.

Police cars parked on Beltway onramps near Blair and searches of cars leaving the Beltway caused the congestion. According to Social Studies teacher George Vlasits, an "FBI agent was... right outside Blair on the Beltway overpass." Vlasits said that the agent was stopping and searching random cars.

"The traffic is very frustrating," said English teacher Phyllis Fleischaker, "but the situation is serious enough that I'm willing to go with it." Fleischaker, like many other teachers, was forced to park her car on a side street and walk to Blair because traffic on Colesville Road was at a standstill.

"I was coming to school and I saw five teachers outside of their cars talking on Colesville because nothing was moving," said junior Erika Pelz-Butler.

Despite an announcement by vice principal Carole Working that students leaving the building faced a two-week suspension, several students left the school from the BNC hallway. Middle school students were not allowed to board buses leaving for Takoma Park or Eastern middle schools.

At 8:06 a.m., after about 40 minutes of down time in the halls, students were sent to class though only about half of Blair's teachers had arrived. First period was extended to 9:38 to allow for late buses and drop-offs.

Not all students made it to school. Senior Noah Teske got on his bus this morning, but ended up returning home. "The driver had gotten stuck on New Hampshire before picking us up," Teske said. "We were heading on Colesville Road waiting to go up the hill, but traffic was stopped, so we turned on Sligo and went home."

Senior Josh Packman fared no better. "I tried to get to school, but my mother and I spent about a half hour in traffic on Connecticut Ave. After that, we decided to come home and spent another hour on Beach Drive trying to avoid Rockville Pike," he recounted. "I'm just glad to be home!"

Earlier in the day, MCPS was considering delaying opening times or closing schools entirely, but eventually decided against it. The following announcement was available on the MCPS website, www.mcps.k12.md.us:

All Montgomery County Public Schools are open this morning, Tuesday, October 22, with obvious difficulties associated with traffic congestion in the area of the ongoing police investigation. Every effort is being made to provide normal transportation to schools, to provide assistance where necessary, and to assess ongoing developments in conjunction with law enforcement authorities.

Blair administration did not know whether school will be held tomorrow. "The superintendent's office makes that decision," Hurley said.

Principal Phillip Gainous appeared on Channel 7 news at 8:50 this morning. Speaking with a reporter in front of the Colesville Road entrance, Gainous explained that the school was starting first period now, and that they would try to have a normal school day under Code Blue procedures.

Gainous described the reaction of students as they waited on the first floor. He said that some asked whether or not classes would be held, whether school would be cancelled, and whether arriving late would count against them. He said that overall they were well-behaved and cooperative.

Gainous told adults that they needed to present a strong face to students to avoid pressing their anxiety onto the children.

Gainous said that, although normally students would go to the portables accompanied by security staff, the portables would not be used today because they aren't heated.

Gainous said he was slightly frustrated by the fact that MCPS did not make an official announcement or decision until about 8:30. He forgave them, saying, "They were probably stuck in traffic too." There is no word yet whether school will be held tomorrow.

Additional reporting by Izaak Orlansky.