Mom runs for school board after suicide text at school goes viral

LaKia “Treasure” Colquitt has decided to run for district 159 school board which encompasses five schools in Matteson and Richton Park. Some of the students at one of the schools share and receive multiple text threads daily. In one particular text thread, a student anonymously posted that he or she wanted to commit suicide. Some students were encouraging this student to kill him or herself while others were asking the child to just wait and seek help. LaKia viewed a recipients text and immediately contacted the school. The schools extended response was “we aren't willing to be involved unless the student is identified as special education.” LaKia says, after several texts and calls, eventually, an apology was issued but no help was provided to the students.

According to LaKia, "the school district has a $32,000,000 budget and has provided refunds to residents but claims not to have the funds necessary to hire more health and wellness professionals for our students." LaKia has decided to run her campaign as an advocate for mental health and wellness and she expresses that this message needs to be heard all over Chicagoland.

LaKia has a Masters degree in Social Work and has been helping families reach their health and wellness goals for over a decade. LaKia believes she has the knowledge and experience necessary to “ breathe life” back into the district and students. "Students deserve a safe environment and therefore a commitment to mental health!" LaKia wants the community to know that she brings this commitment!