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Transylvania County Schools mourns three student deaths; district and local nonprofit offer supports
Summary
The Transylvania County Schools board acknowledged the deaths of three students and highlighted counseling and community resources; local nonprofit TC Strong urged broader community collaboration and offered trainings and support.
Doctor Fletcher, speaking on behalf of Transylvania County Schools and the Board of Education, told the board on March 17 that “it is with profound sadness that Transylvania County School acknowledges the loss of 3 of our students over the weekend.”
The board asked the public to respect the families’ privacy while the district provides additional resources to students and staff. Doctor Fletcher named the students: “Violet Nicoletti, Joshua Laviscia, and Josiah Laviscia.”
At public comment, Beth Ford, director of TC Strong, a local nonprofit focused on youth mental health, described a series of recent losses and offered the group’s services to the district and community. “It will take all of us working together, schools, families, other caring adults, and youth themselves to make our community suicide safer,” Ford said. She described TC Strong’s training work and outreach partnerships and invited school staff to use these resources at no cost to the district.
Ford outlined immediate options for the community, including asking directly about suicidal thoughts and connecting people in crisis to 988 or a local suicide interventionist. She also announced drop-in times at the Trust Center this week for anyone needing support.
The district’s formal remarks and the public comment period distinguished between the board’s role and community supports: Doctor Fletcher issued condolences and a statement of support from the board; Ford described community-based programs, trainings, and grant connections available to schools. The board did not announce additional policy changes during the meeting.
The district asked for privacy for families and emphasized support services for students and staff during the grieving period. TC Strong provided contact information and outreach opportunities, and encouraged individuals concerned about someone’s safety to connect them to crisis resources immediately.
