Superintendent announces memorial service, expanded grief supports after student and mother die

Superintendent David Roth opened his Sept. 3 report by acknowledging the recent deaths of a Blue Oak Elementary student, Josiah Divodi‑Lessa, and the student’s mother, Marissa, and described district and community supports for affected students and staff.

Roth said district teams organized immediate mental‑health support beginning the prior Friday and continuing into the weekend, and that grief counseling remained available at Blue Oak Elementary’s library. He offered special recognition to Blue Oak Principal Julie Hughes and other site leaders, school psychologists and counselors for their rapid response.

External partners who provided support included Summit View Child and Family Services (providing grief counselors), Levi Cambridge and the Marina Village team (sending an on‑site counselor), the Cameron Park and Shingle Springs Rotary (providing meals for staff), Foothill Church (delivering care baskets), the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department (coordination and communication), and the El Dorado County Office of Education (outreach to shared programs).

Roth said students continue to support each other and emphasized that grief is not linear; he urged continued attention to students’ emotional well‑being in the coming weeks. He concluded by announcing a public memorial service for Josiah and Marissa at Foothill Church on Sept. 6 at 11:00 a.m.

No public comments were received on this agenda item. The Board offered condolences and expressed appreciation for the district’s mental‑health coordination and community partner response.