May 6, 2004

EDITORIAL

Schools responded admirably

For many young people and adults in Yellow Springs, 2004 has already been a traumatic year. Though only four months old, this is surely a year Yellow Springers will remember, and, sadly, most of those memories will be painful. It will take a long time to understand that pain, and for some, it may never go away. The weight of two deaths and a gruesome discovery have had a powerful impact in the Yellow Springs schools.

Last month, a beautiful early spring day turned horribly bad when Arla Smith, a 17-year-old senior at YSHS, died in a car accident after the vehicle she was riding in crashed into a tree near the high school. The driver, Anthony Brandon, was seriously hurt. Two days before the fatal accident, Bryon Stubblefield, a young, well-respected coach, died suddenly while playing basketball in the YSHS gym. In February, the mysterious disappearance of YSHS senior Tim Lopez came to a partial conclusion when his remains were found buried in the backyard of a classmate, Michael Rittenhouse. Rittenhouse, who is accused of killing Tim, is being held without bond in the Greene County jail.

Yellow Springs High School and the Yellow Springs school district have responded admirably to these tragic events. The last few weeks since Arla Smith died have been especially challenging. But the school staff have been supportive and open with students, providing students with resources, including counselors, and space to grieve and be with their friends. The schools’ reaction shows that staff, including Principal John Gudgel and Superintendent Tony Armocida, understand their students’ needs and know that their responsibilities as educators are not limited to classroom lessons. And students seemed to appreciate the way YSHS handled the initial days and weeks after Arla died, the News’ Diane Chiddister reported last week.

Many schools and communities must deal with the type of incidents Yellow Springs has experienced in recent months. But having so many tragedies occur in such a short time has been incredibly taxing, and many community members have suffered, in one way or another. Perhaps because young people have especially been affected by these events, these tragedies have been even more painful. The staff of the Yellow Springs schools have shown that they have the skills and leadership to handle crises with compassion.

—Robert Mihalek