June 4, 2009

Suicide Prevention: We need your help to make this a community-wide discussion.
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Dear Friends and Colleagues:

Following yet another student suicide at Barrington High School earlier this week, the need to address this concern has never been greater or more expected. We now must enlist all available outside services to help the school district approach this issue from a community-wide perspective.

With that goal in mind, I am inviting a select group of individuals and organizations in the Barrington area to meet next Tuesday, June 9, at 8 a.m. in the Guidance Resource Center at Barrington High School. Our agenda is simply to dialogue with trusted friends about how we can leverage local resources to safeguard the social-emotional well-being and mental health of every child and family. More importantly, how can we stop similar tragedies from happening again?

Four suicides in the last 20 months have deeply affected our staff and students. Our team at the high school and throughout the district has worked so hard this year to increase awareness and prevention of teen suicide. In the aftermath of the most recent incident, we took inventory of all we are doing to care for students and we listed nearly two dozen quality initiatives that deal specifically with suicide prevention.

Unfortunately, despite these many efforts, we have not solved or adequately communicated the problem. As a result, the anxieties and questions that follow the death of a student are escalating. We are resolute, though, to make sure these emotions become a catalyst for change and solutions. Our students are far too valuable to take any other stance. I know you share that commitment, so please join me on June 9 to discuss the next steps.

Kindly RSVP to my administrative assistant, Joanne Belmonte, at 847-842-3537 if you can attend. I realize this is short notice and your busy schedule may keep you from coming. If so, we will be sure to involve you the next time, as this will undoubtedly be the first of many conversations.

Sincerely, Tom Leonard
tleonard@cusd220.org

P.S. Please look at the names and e-mail addresses of those I invited. If someone is missing you feel should be included, please let me know so we can consider extending an invitation.