Knox schools plan response to rash of student suicides

KNOXVILLE — Three Farragut High School students committed suicide this semester, including two within the past month, prompting Knox County Schools officials to schedule a meeting Thursday for parents to air their concerns and discuss a plan for moving forward.

Dozens of students gathered in the school’s parking lot Monday night in remembrance of the latest victim, a senior who, according to a Knox County Sheriff’s Office incident report, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his truck Friday night near Anchor Park in West Knox County.

The Times Free Press does not identify suicides.

The death followed the suicide of a Farragut High School sophomore less than three weeks earlier. Another Farragut sophomore took his own life in January.

SWEPT UNDER THE RUG

An online petition created after the second student’s death asks for an open and ongoing discussion of the issue with students, as well as an apology from school administrators for not addressing the situation earlier.

The change.org petition, authored by Farragut High School junior Catherine Miller, had garnered more than 2,000 signatures as of Tuesday.

After the first student’s death in January, “[O]ur school swept it under the rug,” Miller writes. “Administration did not discuss it with anyone. Teachers proceeded with class the next day as if nothing ever happened. I am hesitant to believe if the situation, or even the topic of suicide and mental illness, was properly discussed we would not have to mourn two of our peers. Especially in one semester.”

The Knox County Board of Education’s policy states, in part, that following a student death by suicide, students, faculty and staff should be informed and grief counselors should be made available at the school.

Miller said when she initially approached school officials in the wake of the second death last month, she was told that school protocol dictated that no student assembly or official acknowledgement could be made for three months. She said counselors, however, were at the school following the second suicide.

“The students and the parents just didn’t know, we didn’t know,” she said. “When I made this petition … we wanted answers and we wanted justice.”

School board member Susan Horn, whose 5th district includes Farragut, said there was much more going on among school officials behind the scenes than what was shared with students or parents.

“I’ve heard from several parents that feel the administration is doing a very good job. I’ve probably heard from more parents who think they’re doing a good job.”

‘CHANGES ARE DEFINITELY HAPPENING’

Grief counselors are at the school this week, Knox County Schools spokeswoman Carly Harrington confirmed. Statewide standardized testing also was postponed at both Farragut High and Farragut Middle schools, she said.

A letter from Farragut High School Principal Ryan Siebe was emailed to parents Sunday, inviting them to an informational meeting Thursday night to share concerns and “hear our plans for future trainings on suicide for staff, students and families.” A representative of the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network also will be on-hand to offer advice on how to proceed, the letter states.

“You may have heard but I wanted to let you know that we have lost another one of our precious students this weekend,” Siebe’s letter begins. “Parents, please talk to your sons and daughters your own way tonight and know that we will have counselors available all week to help them with this terrible loss at school.”

A father of two Farragut High School students, who asked not to be identified, said the letter was the first communication to parents about the suicides.

Knox County Schools Superintendent Bob Thomas did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

In a written statement provided to the USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee on Tuesday, Siebe states, “We are deeply saddened by the recent tragedies at our school, and our support and condolences go out to the families. The welfare of our students is a concern of every member of our staff, and any loss is heartbreaking to the entire community. We have been working closely with local professionals with Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network and the East Tennessee Mental Health Association to provide us with evidence-based best practices that we are following.”

Miller said she’s encouraged by the steps now being taken.

“Changes are definitely happening,” she said. “They are doing so much now.”