LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
HUME — Students and staff of the Shiloh Community Unit School District are mourning the loss of a freshman student after a tragic accident in the early hours of Sept. 3.
CUSD #1 Superintendent Morgan Wilhoit took to Facebook around 2 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon to inform the community that a student suddenly passed away. She called the death “a significant loss in our school and our community.”
“Our district is committed to doing everything we can to help our students with the grieving and healing process,” Wilhoit said in her official statement. “To that end, we have activated our crisis counseling team to be at our schools today.”
Out of respect for the family of the student, the student’s information has not been released. Details surrounding the incident are currently under investigation.
The superintendent said the loss would affect everyone in the school family and the community. She advised parents and caretakers that students may have “difficulty dealing with the loss…we encourage you to talk with your child,” she said.
In her statement, Wilhoit added the school will be providing grief counselors until 7 p.m. on Tuesday and on Wednesday. The school has also elected to cancel all junior high and high school sports this evening.
Additionally, a special board meeting to name the school’s newest board member this evening was canceled following the news. In its place, the school will hold a parking lot vigil.
Students, family members, staff and community members are invited to attend the vigil this evening at 6 p.m. at 21751 N 575th St. in Hume.
This is an evolving story. The Prairie Press will provide updates as they become available.