Superintendent Talks About Student Death, Police Probe

Schools Superintendent Bill Gretzula says the is cooperating with Bensalem police as they continue their investigation into the cause of death of a Cecelia Snyder Middle School student Friday.

And he added at Wednesday's school board meeting that police still do not know if bullying played any part.

“There has been speculation within our community and via social networking sites as to the cause of death being the result of bullying,” Gretzula said while reading from a prepared statement. “To date, this can neither be confirmed nor denied by the Bensalem Township Police Department.

Patch previously reported that Sgt. Andy Aninsman of the Bensalem Police Department said in an e-mail Tuesday afternoon that no evidence related to bullying had been found. But he didn't say the probe was concluded, and attempts to reach him since then have been unsuccessful.

Gretzula said Wednesday that his comments were based on conversation with township Public Safety Director Fred Harran.

According to a notice on an area funeral home website, services were held Sunday. Gretzula said Wednesday that he visited the family's home Sunday evening and asked that their request for privacy be respected.

The superintendent said the district has “worked diligently for more than a decade to promote safe and healthy school climates for our students.”

The district, he said, was an “early adopter” of the Olweus anti-bullying program which employs research-based strategies to deter bullying and address it when it happens. In addition, he said, several district schools, including Snyder, have been implementing a program called School Wide Positive Behavioral Support, which rewards behavior that is opposite to bullying.

“We, as an administrative team, will continue to praise positive student interactions, act in a timely manner to concerns brought to our attention, and all district personnel will continue to cooperate fully with the investigation into the death of this student,” he said.

Snyder Middle School Principal Deborah McKay sent a letter to parents and guardians Monday telling them that counselors, social workers and other mental health team members are available this week, and that parents with concerns should call the guidance office at 215-750-2800, extensions 2310 or 2396. If a child is having difficulty after school hours, she wrote, parents should call Bucks County Children’s Mobile Crisis at 1-877-435-7709.