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Family asks L'Anse Creuse board for reporting, training and transparency after 11-year-old's suicide
Summary
A letter read to the board urged immediate changes after the suicide of an 11-year-old student, including anonymous reporting, 24-hour parent notification, mandatory staff training, and named points of contact at schools. Superintendent acknowledged the family's loss and said district staff will follow up.
A family asked L'Anse Creuse Public Schools to adopt a set of anti-bullying and reporting reforms after the death of an 11-year-old student the family said died by suicide.
During public comment, Selena Torres read a letter from the child's mother that described the student, Roman, as “bright, fun, funny, and gentle” and said Roman had faced bullying. The mother asked the board for three specific actions: a clear reporting-and-follow-up system, annual evidence-based bullying-prevention lessons and mandatory staff training, and expanded counselor access plus a named point person at each school with quarterly public reporting on bullying incidents and outcomes.
Why it matters: Family members said timely reporting, consistent staff response and public accountability could prevent future tragedies and improve student safety. Board members and staff said they were taking the request seriously and that administrators would follow district protocols while working with the family.
The mother’s letter asked the district to implement: - An easy anonymous reporting tool for students and parents; require documentation and parent notification within 24 hours of reports, and track outcomes publicly. - Annual evidence-based anti-bullying lessons for students and mandatory staff training on recognizing, documenting and de-escalating bullying, with a clear protocol for threats, self-harm or cyberbullying. - Named school-level points of contact for families, increased access to counselors, and quarterly published data on bullying reports and responses.
Superintendent Keith Howell acknowledged the family’s “bravery” in speaking publicly and said he would reach out to the family to discuss next steps. He told the meeting the district would address concerns through established processes and follow up with the speaker.
Other speakers, including board members and a teacher-union representative, expressed sympathy and urged attention to mental-health resources. Community member Michael Lynch, a frequent meeting speaker, said counselors were a priority and urged the board to keep student wellbeing central to budget choices.
Clarifying details requested by the family included explicit timelines (24-hour notification), the mechanics of an anonymous reporting tool, and quarterly public reporting of outcomes. The record shows the board and superintendent committed to follow-up conversations with the family and to consider procedural changes, but no formal board vote on policy changes was recorded at the meeting.
Ending: The board agreed to pursue follow-up with the family and to discuss possible measures within administrative channels; the family requested public accountability and a clear timeline for implementation.
