West Central School District supports students after elementary death

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 28 Oct, 23:32 · Archive

An elementary school student in the West Central School District died over the weekend, affecting the communities of Hartford and Humboldt, South Dakota. The district has activated its crisis plan to provide support to students and staff as they grieve and process the loss.

Erick Knight, the district superintendent, said the first day back at school was difficult but that students responded maturely to the resources made available. 'It's heartbreaking to see, but they did that,' Knight said of students expressing their feelings. The district provided counselors and student success coordinators in each building, and made three counseling sessions available to every employee.

Knight noted that other tragedies have occurred in the region, with Flandreau and Corsica dealing with major car accidents. He said he had reached out to other superintendents to offer support, saying 'However we can help if there's language or if there's scripts or if there's counseling supports that are needed.'

How it is being reported

• Navigating loss at West Central School DistrictHARTFORD, S.D. (KELO)-- Following the tragic loss of an elementary student over the weekend, the West Central School District is making sure no student or staff member has to navigate their grief alone. "The resources that we have, just shifting them, over to that building and making sure that, between our four buildings, we have [...]Keloland · 28 Oct, 23:10
• West Central School District supports students and staff after tragedyThe loss of an elementary school student continues to affect the communities of Hartford and Humboldt, and resources are available so students can grieve and process the loss.Dakotanewsnow · 27 Oct, 23:22

In this story: West Central School District · Hartford · Humboldt · Erick Knight · Flandreau · Corsica

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