Superintendent Statement on Death of NAHS Student

I am writing to let all members of our North Andover school community know of a tragic event that occurred in our town. A 16-year-old junior at North Andover High School took his own life in the early hours of Tuesday, Oct. 25. This news has deeply saddened everyone in our schools, and particularly at the high school.

In response to this tragic event, the high school Principal convened the school Crisis Team early Tuesday morning. This group includes about 15 administrators and staff, including the Principal, who led the meeting, the two assistant principals, the School Resource Officer, the nurse, the school psychologist and special education department head, school adjustment counselor, and guidance counselors. A plan was developed consisting of personal contact with the student’s circle of friends and with teachers who are now teaching, or have taught, the student. The remaining faculty was notified at a full staff meeting yesterday.

The high school Advisory block has been used to convey the news to all of our students. All Advisory teachers read a prepared statement and gave students opportunity to express themselves if they wanted. Guidance counselors have been available to help, and will continue to be readily available for our students. Grievance counseling has also been made available to staff. Guidance counselors will be circulating during lunch and checking in with students. Additional counselors from the Middle School and elementary schools are also on hand. Our students are handling the situation as well as can be expected and have appreciated and availed themselves of the grief counseling that is being made available.

I also want to address the rumors on social media sites, particularly on FaceBook and Twitter, about bullying having been a factor in the student’s death. These rumors have no basis whatsoever. The student was well known to administrators and teachers and no reports of any bullying have surfaced. In addition, both the high school Principal, Dr. Scuzzarella, and I, as Superintendent, have been in frequent contact with Chief Gallagher of the North Andover Police Department.  Chief Gallagher has issued the following statement to me just after the noon hour today:

"The North Andover Police working with the Massachusetts State Police, assigned to District Attorney Blodgett’s office, have been conducting the investigation of the unattended death of a junior at North Andover High School. The internet social media has postings of bullying as a possible factor in the investigation.  At this stage we have found no correlation.  Interviews have been conducted by our School Resource Officers and school staff which included students and caretakers. No intimidation or bullying has been suggested."

I want to stress how very saddened we are that a member of our school community has left us in this tragic way. In North Andover, we have a strong and active Building Respectful Community program that provides a wide range of activities designed to build individual self-esteem and interpersonal respect. We have a professional counseling department with resources at all of our schools, including teachers, support staff, administrators, school psychologists, an adjustment counselor, and School Resource Police officers, all of whom are dedicated to the well-being and success of our students. In this time of sadness, I am asking all of our school community to join in sending our condolences to the family and to respect the process of healing that will now need to take place.

Sincerely,

Christopher Hottel

Superintendent of Schools

North Andover MA