SALT LAKE CITY — The Davis School District announced that it will begin an independent investigation into the alleged bullying incidents that led to the suicide of a 10-year-old North Salt Lake girl.
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In a statement released Friday, the district said the death of Isabella "Izzy" Tichenor last week "is tragic and devastating," and that they are "committed to preventing this from happening in the future."
According to officials, the investigation will look into how the district is handling bullying and other critical issues facing students.
Tichenor took her own life after family said she had been bullied by other students at Foxboro Elementary. Tichenor's family believes she was a target for others in her class due to having dyslexia and being on the autism spectrum.
Brittany Tichenor, Izzy's mother, says she reported the bullying to her daughter's teachers, but says the school's administration did nothing. In a statement Monday, the district claimed the school officials "responded quickly and appropriately," and that an investigation was ongoing.
Friday's statement went further and detailed what the district hopes to accomplish.
"We also want to provide resources to our students and community who may be struggling with this loss," the district said. "The tragedy of suicide can be far-reaching, and it’s not uncommon to feel grief for the loss of someone you have never met, especially if there’s a feeling of shared commonality."
In addition to the investigation, Governor Spencer Cox said he will be meeting with the Davis County District and other school districts about bullying.
WATCH: Family, friends, classmates hold vigil for 10-year-old Utah girl
The Davis School District announced Friday that it will be bringing in an independent investigation “to look further into this and review our handling of critical issues, such as bullying, to provide a safe and welcoming environment for all students.”
The Utah Parent Center offers resources to help parents help kids with bullying. Jennie Dopp said districts can help special education students by focusing on Individual Educational Plans (IEPs) so kids can learn self-advocacy.
“We can start to teach our children to be self-advocates and learn how to recognize the signs of bullying,” she said.
Dopp is also a parent of a son on the autism spectrum.
“When you have a child yourself with a disability, you understand that it kind of hits closer to home,” she said. “That this could have easily been my child.”
Davis School District’s full statement:
“The death of Izzy is tragic and devastating. Our hearts continue to be with the family, friends and community who are grieving this loss. The well-being of our students will always be a priority, and we are committed to preventing this from happening in the future.
"As part of this commitment, we will be bringing in an independent investigation to look further into this and review our handling of critical issues, such as bullying, to provide a safe and welcoming environment for all students.
"We also want to provide resources to our students and community who may be struggling with this loss. The tragedy of suicide can be far-reaching, and it’s not uncommon to feel grief for the loss of someone you have never met, especially if there’s a feeling of shared commonality.
"We want to encourage parents to stay connected to their kids, especially during this time, and talk with them about their mental health and well-being. Feelings of depression, bullying, harassment, vulnerable living situations, feelings of isolation, and addictions are significant problems for children and youth. The district has trained licensed therapists available to talk to and process these feelings and help parents facilitate these conversations.”
A celebration of Izzy's life will be held Saturday.
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If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, there is always help. Call the National Suicide Prevention lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. The lifeline is free and available 24/7.
Help is also available online at suicidepreventionlifeline.org
