1180P Memorials to Deceased Students and Staff

Colchester Public Schools
                                 PROPOSED NEW POLICY
                                                                                     1180P

                                                                   COMMUNITY RELATIONS

                   MEMORIALS TO DECEASED STUDENTS AND STAFF

Recognizing that the loss of a member of the school community is deeply felt, the
District will support staff, students and families who feel the loss, and will assist with
connections to appropriate community resources. As places designated primarily to
support learning, school sites should not serve as the main venue for the memorializing
of students or staff.

The preferred method for permanent memorials to deceased students or staff is a living
memorial, such as a tree. Specific locations for plantings shall be determined by the
Superintendent or his/her designee. Living memorials may be marked with a permanent
stone or plaque indicating the name and relevant information of the person to be
memorialized. The specific type of living memorial and messages on accompanying
stones or plaques shall be approved by the Superintendent and shall not be paid for
through district funds. Other types of permanent memorials may be approved by the
Superintendent instead of a living memorial. The family shall be consulted at the time of
any request. Permanent memorials, regardless of the form, shall be limited to one per
loss.

Memorial activities for deceased students or staff expressed at school shall be
coordinated and approved through the Crisis Response Team (CRT), as well as building
administration. The CRT will assist families and students in selecting memorial activities
that are appropriate for school and assist students and staff with healthy bereavement.
Building administration, in consultation with the Superintendent and CRT, shall exercise
discretion in determining which activities best meet the overall needs of students, staff,
parents and the community. Examples of such activities include yearbook recognition,
graduation recognition, and moment of silence recognition. The Superintendent, in
consultation with the CRT, has discretion to consider memorial events, such as a vigil,
that utilize district facilities when the death of a student or staff member has a
significant impact on a majority of students, staff and community.

Temporary memorials, such as floral arrangements and photo displays, shall remain in
place at the discretion of the Superintendent, for a period of time not to exceed two
weeks after the death occurred. Such memorials shall then be given to the family by
designated district officials, when practicable. Temporary memorials shall not alter
district owned property.


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The District reserves the right to establish design parameters so that all permanent
memorials blend with the architecture or setting of the facility, and/or blend with
existing memorials.

Policy adopted:       February 11, 2020


COLCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Colchester, Connecticut




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