LM Feb 2022

When a Staff Member or a Student Dies

By Ralph Grimm and Diane Robertson IASA Field Service Directors

Every Superintendent, through the course of his or her career, may receive that dreaded phone call saying that a staff member or a student has passed away. It’s a sad and gut-wrenching experience that both of us experienced during our superintendencies. To help school leaders navigate these challenging situations, we compiled a checklist to help you prepare and lead your district through this crisis. When you get this call, we suggest you consider the following:

First, verify the information with family members or local authorities. What does the family want to have disclosed, if anything? What is already publicly known? Consult your District Crisis Management Plan and follow the protocols outlined in that plan. Determine who your first call should go to: Jason Nevel, IASA Director of Communications. Jason has helped many Superintendents draft an appropriate communication to use. His help will be invaluable in many respects... Your Board President... The building administrator of the building the person worked in or attended... Crisis Response Team, if available...

Local Clergy Association, if appropriate. Determine how and when to speak to all district staff. Schedule a district-wide staff meeting so everyone hears the same news. Be prepared to deal with a wide range of emotional responses. We recommend the Superintendent lead this meeting. Care must be given to the amount and type of information that can be shared. Think HIPAA and Employee Rights to Privacy. Determine how to inform the staff member’s students (in the case of a staff member) or the student’s classmates. Decide who is best suited to deliver this news. Notify students face to face. Provide staff with a prepared statement. Determine how and when to make a public statement. Keep in mind the sad news may very well already be on social media.

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LM February 2022