Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Superintendent Rankin addresses two student deaths, outlines counseling and support plan
Summary
Brainerd Public School District Superintendent Rankin told the board the district lost two students over the summer, described coordinated crisis response steps and said counselors and regional partners are available to support students, families and staff; he pledged a review of mental-health staffing and programs.
Superintendent Rankin told the Brainerd Public School District board that "this summer, our school community has experienced loss of 2 of our students" and asked the community to give families "compassion, patience, and some privacy." He said the district convened a crisis team and met with more than 30 professionals to coordinate support for students, families and staff.
Rankin said the district has reached out to families and staff and is providing on-site counseling at Forest View from Tuesday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and noted that the national 988 crisis lifeline and a 24-hour line at Northern Pines are available. "Support is available right now," he said, adding employee assistance is available to staff.
On whether the two losses were connected, Rankin said, "We have no information to indicate that these 2 losses were connected," and asked the public not to speculate. He committed the district to reviewing staffing, training and programming so "our people return better prepared and better supported than ever to care for our kids." The superintendent framed the response as a districtwide and communitywide effort that included building principals, counselors, student-support teams, the regional school crisis response team and faith partners.
During public comment, two speakers addressed the board's handling of district matters in the wake of Rankin's remarks. Rick Felt, a Brainerd resident, used his three minutes to criticize prior board votes on the school calendar and book decisions and said those actions were wrong; his remarks included, "you declared war against God when you did that." Connie Lizzio thanked Rankin for his remarks and urged the district to "invest in the paraprofessionals" and to expand collaborative supports for students.
The board did not disclose student names or details of the circumstances; Rankin said the district would not share private family information and that families had been contacted directly. The board and district staff directed resources to immediate counseling and pledged follow-up work to identify and close gaps in mental-health supports.
