Dear District 186 Families,
It is with a heavy heart that we mourn the loss of Keyon Day, a sophomore at Southeast High School. As a District family, we stand together in solidarity, supporting one another through difficult moments. We want to honor Keyon’s life, and continue to care for those affected by this tragedy and other events in our community that impact our students and families.
We understand the distress and apprehension that this has caused our community and our District 186 families. Please know we are committed to providing a safe and productive learning environment every day for all students. We will have extra patrols and security at Southeast High School and in the vicinity of Ball Charter and SSHS for as long as needed. We will keep open lines of communication with all schools and listen to their unique needs.
To support our school community during this challenging time, our Crisis Response Team is on-site at Southeast High School, ready to assist any students or staff members who may need emotional support or counseling. Social workers and psychologists are on hand at schools for students who need support in the coming days.
Every building has emergency response plans that are followed, and staff have been trained for various scenarios. We thank our teachers and administrators for executing these plans competently and swiftly. We also want to thank Springfield Police Department, first responders and our medical community for their quick action and response.
Our hearts go out to Keyon’s family, and we are keeping them in our thoughts during this extremely difficult time.
Please be assured that we are always looking out for the best interest of our students and staff and wish to maintain transparency and open communication with you. I thank you for the privilege of educating your children each day.
Sincerely,
Jennifer E. Gill
Superintendent