Three weeks in October: managing widespread fear in a school community during the final days of the Beltway Sniper crisis

School Administrator, June, 2004 by Stewart D. Roberson

4-5 p.m.: Another media interview; the central focus was upon the 90 percent attendance rate of our students today. I attribute that to the community's readiness to move on and the community's confidence in the partnership between the school system and law enforcement.

Thursday, Oct. 24

(Sniper suspects arrested around 3:30 a.m. while sleeping in their vehicle at an interstate rest stop in Frederick County, Md. This news becomes public knowledge by 7:30 a.m.)

7:15-7:30 a.m.: At my son's bus stop.

7:30-8:45 a.m.: Visit five additional schools. The district can report 96 percent attendance today.

8:45 a.m.: Phone conversation with the county sheriff to discuss a time frame for lifting lockdown provisions in the aftermath of the early morning arrests.

11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.: Metro Richmond superintendents twice discuss with law enforcement personnel provisions for lifting lockdown measures at schools. We agree that not until we learn there is a ballistics match to the evidence taken from the suspects' vehicle will we announce the lifting of the lockdown.

3:30-5:30 p.m.: Speak with each school board member personally by phone.

8 p.m.: Final sniper task force press conference where the ballistics match is confirmed.

9 p.m.: Metro Richmond superintendents issue a press release, lifting all lockdown provisions.

9:15 p.m.: Hanover County Sheriff Stuart Cook and I talk by phone. We commit to a round of golf soon.

Friday, Oct. 25

6:45 a.m.: More media interviews.

8 a.m.: I learn from our law enforcement partners and reporters that the suspects had been in our community for five days, frequenting the YMCA, staying at a local hotel and contacting a local priest.

8:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Write thank you notes to school principals, teachers, parent leaders, editorial page editors, school board members and others and listen to news reports of the police investigation. Interestingly, the past week's reports about how it was unsafe for children to travel to school are replaced by the usual drivel on the talk shows about how schools in America are rotten. In a perverse way, I realize life is getting back to normal.

1-2:30 pm: Write more thank you notes.

2:30-4 p.m.: Visit more schools to say thanks.

4-6 p.m.: Go home and take a nap.

7 p.m.: Take family to dinner to mark a challenging week together.

Selected e-mail received on 10/20/02

11:15 a.m.: I am a reporter with the Associated Press in Richmond. We're wondering what precautions county schools will be taking this week?

12:09 p.m.: I know you have your hands full right now, but wanted to offer a thought that may be worth considering. Could the schools open the doors 15-30 min. earlier to let the kids in rather than congregating out front?

11:25 p.m.: I know you are in a rough spot. Hang in there, you're doomed if you do, you're doomed if you don't. Do the best you can do.

11:40 p.m.: I understand the reason behind closing schools on 10/21/02, but I also wanted to voice my concern. I feel that we are sending our children the wrong message about how to react to situations like this. We should not be changing our lives around because of this two-bit nutcase with a gun, that is exactly what he wants us co do. We need to teach our children to go about their normal lives instead of scaring them more by making them feel like school isn't a safe place co be anymore.