Edmond Public Schools reviewing bullying allegations after Santa Fe freshman's death

Editor's note: If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) any time day or night. Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741. Help is also available by calling or texting 988 locally in Oklahoma.

EDMOND — Allegations of bullying within the Edmond Santa Fe High School baseball team have surfaced in the wake of a student’s death.

Aiden Renner Reese, a 15-year-old freshman on the team, died Monday. The death was ruled a suicide, the medical examiner’s office said.

Edmond Public Schools says it is looking at the allegations to determine if there is cause for an investigation, and Edmond Santa Fe Principal Jason Hayes has sent an email to families of all students about Aiden’s death.

“While I am limited in the details I am able to share, please know that we are available to assist the family and friends of the student during this unimaginable time,” Hayes said in the email.

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A GoFundMe for Aiden's memorial expenses includes a message from Teresa Reese, Aiden’s mother. She wrote that her son died “because of the mean and hateful behavior of boys that were his peers.”

Part of her message reads: “I have been getting requests of what we need, well here it is!! Talk to your children about BULLYING!”

On social media, she is sharing the hashtags #bekindforAidenReese and #seesomethingsaysomethingAidenReese.

Others have spoken up on social media, sharing Aiden’s story and denouncing bullying.

Edmond Public Schools released a statement acknowledging those allegations “surrounding the circumstances of the student’s death.” The school district is reviewing the claims to see if they require further investigation, according to the statement.

Susan Parks-Schlepp, director of communications at Edmond Public Schools, said district administrators were “unaware of allegations prior to those that were made on social media on Friday, Feb. 17.” She said Santa Fe administrators and district administrators will take part in the review process, which will involve conversations with baseball coaches and others potentially close to the situation.

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Emily Ward, the public information specialist for Edmond police, said the department had not received reports from Aiden or his family regarding bullying.

In the email to Santa Fe families, Hayes said starting Tuesday, a crisis team was on campus as needed during the week to support students and staff. Santa Fe High School was not in session Monday for Presidents Day.

During the school day Tuesday, Santa Fe students held a peaceful honor walk in memory of Aiden. This prompted another email from Hayes to families of all Edmond Santa Fe students. He said administrators “were made aware of plans” Tuesday morning for the student-organized walk, which involved around 150-200 students leaving the building and proceeding to the front lawn.

Although administrators and resource officers were “on-site” at the time of the event, Hayes said all student participants would be counted absent from class in accordance with school policy and state law.

Additionally, the school has pushed back against physical memorials on campus honoring Aiden. Someone had spelled out “BE KIND 4 AIDEN” in cups on the fence outside Edmond Santa Fe’s baseball stadium, but the memorial has been removed. Hayes’ email included a link to the district’s policy on deceased student and staff memorials.

“There are multiple studies that show memorials can be harmful to students’ well-being and even delay the grieving process,” Hayes said.

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The policy states school grounds “should not serve as the main venue for the memorializing of students or staff” and memorials should be restricted to donations to the Edmond Public Schools Foundation.

In his initial email, Hayes shared counseling resources, including contact information for school counselors and the 988 crisis hotline.

“For many students, this may be a first experience with the death of a peer,” Hayes said. “For others, news of their classmate’s death may bring up memories of a recent loss. That, combined with not having school Monday, may leave some students unable to get the counseling resources they need.”

He added: “As our teens sort through their feelings, experts also stress the importance of conversations at home about grief and loss.

“It’s impossible to imagine a more difficult loss than that of a child. Today’s devastating news serves to remind all of us of how important it is to cherish every moment we have with those we love.”

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Edmond Public Schools reviewing allegations after freshman's death