In an eight minute special session on Tuesday evening, the Gasconade County R-2 Board of Education passed a revision of the student memorial policy, eliminating language prohibiting memorials for students and faculty members who died from suicide. Debbie Landolt and Jason Crowe who were absent from the Aug. 11 meeting were in attendance and Director Joyce Lowes participated via phone.

The board adopted the policy as the Missouri School Board Association (MSBA) recommended with a unanimous 7-0 vote, eliminating the last two lines from the 2012 adoption of the policy that was added by a previous board.

The room remained silent for three seconds while board members, students and parents stared at each other before Shannan Holzschuh, mother of deceased 2024 classmate Drake Holzschuh, smiled at her son’s supporters. “He get’s a chair!” she said through tears. Several who were present clapped.

Board President Glenn Ely said their goal was creating a healthy precedence to policy change, being considerate to the board and respectful to the family, and making a timely decision before school starts.