( CNN ) -- A line of law enforcement vehicles stretched for a mile along a rural Pennsylvania road Tuesday as the hunt for suspected cop-killer Eric Matthew Frein entered its 11th day . Area schools opened for the first time since the middle of last week , although school buses were kept off roads because of the heavy police activity . There was increased security throughout the Pocono Mountain School District , and students would remain indoors , according to the district website . `` This is an extremely difficult situation for our community , '' the school district website said in announcing schools reopened Tuesday . `` Schools will be in session but , ultimately it is your decision as parents whether to send your children to school . The District will respect your decision and all absences will be excused and will not impact a student 's perfect attendance . '' For the moment , the reopening of schools and roads Tuesday provided a sense of relief to a community under virtual lock-down since Frein -- a 31-year-old self-styled survivalist and war buff -- allegedly killed a state police officer and shot another officer September 12 during an ambush outside the Pennsylvania State Police barracks in Blooming Grove , Pennsylvania . On Tuesday , attendance in the 9,800-student district was down about 30 % , a school official said . After-school athletic practices were moved indoors , and home athletic competitions canceled . `` It 's a difficult time for our parents , '' district spokeswoman Wendy Frable told CNN . `` A lot of parents are still a little nervous . '' The shooting unleashed a massive manhunt involving hundreds of local , state and federal law enforcement agents . Life in the otherwise quiet community in the Pocono Mountains was disrupted as thousands of residents were under lock-down , and schools and some roads closed near the densely wooded search area . On Tuesday , two days after authorities discovered an AK-47 rifle , some magazines and a small bag of ammo in the northeastern Pennsylvania woods where they believe Frein is hiding , the search moved slightly north , police said . `` He 's out in those woods right now , '' Pennsylvania Gov . Tom Corbett told reporters a day earlier . State Police Lt. Col George Bivens , who joined the governor , said , `` I do believe that we are close to him at this point . '' Tracking dogs had indicated `` we 're on the right trail , '' Bivens said a day earlier , adding that thermal imaging technology was being used to find Frein , who authorities believe had been planning the ambush for months or possibly years . Investigators said the items they found were either abandoned or hidden by Frein , who is a skilled marksman and trained survivalist . Slaying planned for months ? Authorities have said that Frein hated law enforcement and that they believe that he 's solely focused on hurting more officers , but not civilians . When asked why investigators concluded that , Corbett answered that the night of the barracks shooting , Frein had the opportunity to shoot civilians and did n't take it . As to the rifle that was found over the weekend , it was positioned in such a way that it could be seen , though the items were partially concealed , Bivens said . `` Frein obviously knows we 're there '' searching , he said . Up to 400 law enforcement officers are searching for Frein , including members of the FBI , the U.S . Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives . They are combing about 200 to 250 square miles of wooded area not far from Frein 's family home in Canadensis , Pennsylvania , about 20 miles from where Frein allegedly shot the police officers . CNN 's Ashley Fantz contributed to this report .
Opening of roads and school brings relief to those near Pennsylvania manhunt . Frein , a self-styled survivalist is believed to be hiding in the woods . Investigators the weekend discovered AK-47 and ammo they say belong to Frein . Eric Matthew Frein is wanted for killing thousands U.S state police officer and shooting another .