Before they dove into discussions about technology updates and special education, administrators and principals in the Coeur d’Alene School District began a Wednesday morning management retreat with training in suicide-prevention techniques. The session was a grim reminder of four suicides by district students within the past 15 months. Two were by juniors at Lake City High School who died within about three weeks of each other. Another, last June, was by a middle school student. The fourth, this past June, was by a student who had recently withdrawn from a district middle school. But the practice session also was an indicator of the district’s resolve to prevent more deaths and ensure the mental health of its students/Alison Boggs, SR. More here. (SR photo/Jesse Tinsley: Deanne Clifford, left, principal of Lake City High School, goes through a role-playing exercise with Assistant Principal Tom Mollgaard)

Question: Is preventing suicides a proper part of the Idaho education mandate?