Superintendent Speaks on Ooltewah Incident Before PTA Meeting on Suicide

His prepared statement was given at a PTA meeting where suicide amongst teenagers was discussed.

Hazing and bullying prevention were on the meeting’s agenda which was scheduled months ago…but the topic of hazing and bullying is now front and center as the details of the alleged incident come to light.

"I do want to let everyone know how heartbroken we are about this, how heartbroken I am personally," said Hamilton County Superintendent Rick Smith. "But I can promise you, and those of you that know me and many of you do, know we’re going to work very hard and very diligently within our staff, our school board and the community at large to develop the kind of safegaurds that will hopefully prevent this from ever happening again."

Smith wasn’t scheduled to speak at today’s meeting but with a public growing impatient for answers, he chose Wednesday’s PTA meeting where suicide amongst youth was the topic.

"Chronic bullying, that can be a stressor, even on top of other stressors in the environment and that can lead to suicide or suicide ideations," said speaker Eve Nite with the Mental Health Cooperative of East Tennessee.

The debate will surely continue and evolve as more details emerge about the incident on whether or not hazing was a factor in the incident.

But the coach and other school officials are quick to say this incident was isolated and not representative of the school body or sports teams at all.

"Our hearts go out to the families that are affected, certainly to the child who was affected and will be for the rest of his life," said PTA president Sherrie Ford. "We’re very compassionate to that situation and our hearts and prayers go out to them."

"This tragedy has had a profound effect on our community, in particular the Ooltewah community," Smith said. "But we need to support Ooltewah high school knowing fully well that this is not representative of the 1600 students that are there today and are attending that very proud school."