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Mother praises counselors and urges more social‑emotional supports after Oak Crest freshman’s death
Summary
At a public comment period the mother of an Oak Crest student who died by suicide thanked school counselors for crisis response, disputed social‑media allegations about funeral‑related behavior and urged the district to prioritize social‑emotional learning and adult mentorship for students.
Christine Miller of Mays Landing addressed the board during public comment to report that on June 4 her son Anish, a freshman at Oak Crest, died by suicide. Miller described Anish as "a really good person" who spent time in her home and said, "Therefore, I call him one of my kids." She thanked district staff — naming Mr. Reyna, Mr. Manning and counselors — for immediate crisis support to students in the days after the death and for implementing an organized crisis plan.
Miller told the board that nearly 40 teens gathered at her home on the night of June 4 and that many later said a district staff member reached out to them at school. She credited that outreach with helping students move "from shock to grief" and urged the board to continue embedding social‑emotional learning in the curriculum and to "have each student connected to one adult that they trust."
Miller also contested social‑media posts alleging disrespectful behavior by students after a June 6 funeral. She said, "I was one of the parents there, and I couldn't have been more prouder of these kids. They were respectful, and there were parents there that supported them," and added that the restaurant where students had a meal was paid and properly tipped.
The board acknowledged Miller's remarks. The public transcript records no immediate board action tied to the comment in the public portion; the board subsequently moved to an executive session for attorney‑client and student matters. Miller's statements were offered as personal testimony during public comment and were not cross‑examined in the record.
