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IONIA – Three Ionia Public Schools (IPS) buildings are closed today after an employee was found dead in a school building late Wednesday night.
Welch High School, Ionia High School (IHS), and the Bulldog Beginnings Preschool located inside of IHS are closed on Thursday, Dec. 4. All other IPS buildings remain open.
The employee’s name has not been released, but in a 5 a.m. Thursday IPS press release they were referred to as “a beloved educator.”
“There is no evidence to suggest any ongoing threat to the community,” noted Ionia Department of Public Safety Director Corland McDiarmid. “The investigation remains active, and additional information will be released as it becomes available.”
“Our office will wait for IPS to offer updates regarding the staff member’s name and position within the district,” McDiarmid added. “We won’t provide any updates regarding the investigation until we have the results of the autopsy, which typically takes a couple of weeks.”
“Our thoughts are with the family, friends, colleagues and students who are affected by this profound loss,” IPS Superintendent Ben Gurk wrote. “Please keep them close in your hearts and prayers during this difficult time. Grief counselors will be available on Friday to provide further support and comfort to our students and staff.”
“At this time, we are focused on providing comprehensive support to our students and staff in this extremely difficult space,” Gurk added. “We continue to respect the privacy of the family and appreciate the community’s cooperation in this regard.”
Gurk said that grief counselors would be available for staff and students on Friday.
“Everyone will process this tragic news in their own way,” Gurk said. “As a united community, we will support each other through these trying times.”
