Crisis counseling teams in Colorado Springs’ largest public school districts have been operating in overdrive.
“School campuses are really big families, and you see the losses taking a toll,” said Kim Boyd, lead school psychologist for Falcon School District 49.
Five staff members have died in D-49 in the past year, three in rapid-fire succession this semester. A middle school teacher was killed in a skiing accident in March, the head of transportation was the victim of an unsolved homicide in February, and a bicycling accident last weekend claimed the life of a top administrator. On Friday night, a crash caused by a suspected drunken driver claimed the life of an 18-year-old Falcon High School student who was set to graduate in May.
At least seven Colorado Springs School District 11 students have passed away this school year. One committed suicide, another died in a car crash over winter break, two elementary school students were killed in a family murder-suicide in January, a high school student was hit by a car while walking to school in February, and two high school students were killed in March, victims of a double homicide.
Dealing with this year’s losses led District 11 to revamp its procedures for follow-up care starting in the fall, said Cory Notestine, counseling facilitator for D-11.
