Classmates, parents and teachers to be offered counseling

District administrators and Meyers Elementary School staff will provide counseling today for grieving students, parents and teachers.

The 9-year-old girl who was kidnapped and murdered, Krystal Steadman, was a fourth-grader at Meyers School.

"The game plan at this point is we're going to meet in the morning at Meyers School," El Dorado County Department of Mental Health Children's Service Coordinator Sally Williams said. "I'll be there with a couple members of my staff and counselors from Tahoe Youth and Family Services and the school psychologists. We'll start by meeting with staff before school."

Williams said counselors will speak in each classroom.

"We'll go into the classrooms and talk with the kids and basically let them talk," she said. "And we want to be available for teachers and if parents want to come in."

According to Lake Tahoe Unified School District Assistant Superintendent Barbara Davis, a packet has been given to all principals with information on how to deal with death and grievances.

"We encourage parents to send their children to school and we will provide the emotional support when they get there," Davis said.

Linda Allred, a counselor at the Department of Mental Health, who specializes in grief counseling will also be at Meyers.

Teachers at Meyers Elementary were told about Krystal's death while classes were in session on Monday. Administrators advised them against giving the news to students until parents were informed.