Grief Counselors At 2 Harford Schools After Student Deaths
A crisis team was at both Edgewood High School and Churchville Elementary School Wednesday after a student at each school died this week.
Update (2:28 p.m. Feb. 16)—Harford County Public Schools are in mourning this week after two student deaths.
On Sunday, 17-year-old Mark Ryan Summers passed away in his home. Mark was a senior at Edgewood High School, according to his obituary on the McComas Funeral Home website.
The teen may have been experiencing health issues, according to Monica Worrell, public information officer for the Harford County Sheriff's Office.
The young man's death was filed with the sheriff's office as an unattended death, but there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death, Worrell said.
According to his obituary, Mark was a Jets fan, a gamer, texter and animal lover. He is survived by his mother, Susan Claudio Summers of Edgewood, and sisters.
The teen's death was followed by the death of a Churchville Elementary School student.
Andrew Carl Miller, age 10, of Bel Air, died Tuesday, according to his online obituary.
Known as a "LegoManiac" with a love for playing the drums and percussion, Andrew is survived by his parents, Steven Carl Miller and Mildred Beth Smith-Miller. Smith-Miller is a long-term substitute teacher at C. Milton Wright High School.
"The school system is aware of both of the student deaths," Teri Kranefeld, manager of communications for the school system, wrote in an email to Patch Wednesday.
A crisis team was at both schools this week to provide support for students, Kranefeld wrote.
"In addition, we work very closely with the Harford County Health Department and the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene whenever tragedies such as these occur to ensure the safety of our students and staff. If there were a public health concern, parents would be notified immediately. Our condolences go out to the families," Kranefeld wrote.
Worrell said members of law enforcement were also aware of both deaths, but both deaths appeared to be health-related and not criminal in nature.
Wings
12:48 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Umm what happened to the Churchville student??
Rachel
2:31 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
I don't think anything special happened at the High school... They just kept us in the guidance office... They talked about Mark, and then after first period sent us back to class. I'm sure they talked to the classes he was in, but I don't think anything special was done for the people who really mattered and who cared about him the most.
Mona Ennd
4:04 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
RIP Mark Summers. A life cut too short , to fast. xoxo And god bless Andrew Miller and his family.
karen
5:56 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
I really think the medical examiner should come up with some fast answers 2 boys 2 days same symptoms ?
Amy
1:05 pm on Friday, February 17, 2012
^^^ I agree. Plus I read a 19 year old from Morgan state died with flu like symptoms last week.