LM Feb 2022

Closely monitor your students and staff. The death of a staff member or a student could possibly trigger difficult memories or experiences on the part of the staff or students. Provide counseling services, time away, substitutes or other types of assistance to those who need it. Depending on when funeral services are scheduled, you will need to make a decision about whether or not to cancel school so students and staff can attend. As you lead through these very difficult circumstances, be in tune with your own emotions and how the stress of dealing with this may be affecting you. Remember, you have access through your IASA membership dues to ComPsych should you need to talk to someone during these difficult times. You may find this article helpful should you need additional information—Guidelines When Responding to the Death of a Student or School staff. Finally, treat your staff and students like you would want to be treated if you were in this situation. Handling the death of a staff member or a student requires a great deal of compassion, strength and understanding. No one goes through these situations alone. Reach out to colleagues or the IASA Field Service Directors if you need additional help.

You may wish to put something on social media but keep your comments very general and only after consulting the family of the staff member or student. Refer to the statement that Jason Nevel has helped you create. Use Jason Nevel to help you be prepared to answer 3–5 anticipated questions. Write them down on a 3x5 card and carry that card with you until this crisis passes. Stick to the notes on the card when asked to speak about the situation. Schedule a time to meet with the family of the deceased staff member or student. This may be a very difficult conversation but it is important and should occur when it is reasonable to do so. Offer them your sympathy. Offer to assist them in any way you can. Be prepared for requests from the family to perhaps use the gym for the funeral or for some type of memorial service. Know the district’s past practice regarding these types of requests. Don’t promise something until you know for sure what has been done in the past. At a future point you will need to speak to the family about retrieving the staff member’s or the student’s personal effects from the school. This is best done after regular school hours. Because this is a very difficult time for the family, the personal effects should be boxed up and taken to the main office for retrieval.

Ralph Grimm IASA Field Service Director rgrimm@iasaedu.org

Diane Robertson IASA Field Service Director drobertson@iasaedu.org

13 LM February 2022