Following the suicide deaths of two Plymouth High School students within a year of each other, the Plymouth Community School Corporation is taking a series of steps to address the issue. Last Wednesday, students at Plymouth High School, Lincoln Junior High School, and Riverside Intermediate School had the chance to hear from a man who survived a suicide attempt.
Kevin Hines jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge in 2000 but survived. Since then, he has been giving suicide prevention presentations and has gained a reputation as one of the top speakers in the country, according to the school corporation. Students also had a chance to speak with counselors from the Bowen Center, and open discussions on the topic took place at the high school following the presentation.
However, Wednesday’s presentation was just the beginning. Plymouth Superintendent Dan Tyree has announced the formation of a Blue Ribbon Committee to determine how to detect potential suicides, intervene, and update the corporation’s crisis plan.
The committee will be led by Assistant Superintendent Andy Hartley and consist of the following members:
- Ted Brown – Director of Safety and Security
- Brooke Busse – Director of Quality Programming
- Jim Condon – Plymouth High School Principal
- Aimee Portteus – Plymouth High School Director of Guidance
- Reid Gault – Lincoln Jr. High School Principal
- Julie Stauffer – Lincoln Jr. High School Counselor
- Jeni Hirschy – Riverside Intermediate School Principal
- Elizabeth Cobb – Riverside Intermediate School Social Worker
- 1 School Board Member
- 2 Staff volunteers from each of the three buildings
- 1 Parent from each of the three school buildings
- A representative of the Bowen Center
- 3 community members
- Others as needed
The committee is expected to present its final report to the Plymouth School Board, staff, and parents by the end of the school year. Officials with the school corporation hope the committee’s work will align with a counseling grant offered by the Lilly Foundation.
