Educational Opportunity Center -

First and foremost, the passing of Robbie Parkhurst was a tragic loss to all involved, including the Clarkston School District community. Our staff and students have mourned the loss of Robbie, and our sympathy will always be with those who knew and loved Robbie. 

The lawsuit brought against Clarkston School District arising out of Robbie’s death was defended by the school district’s insurance carrier. Clarkston School District denied all liability in the case and maintains that denial to this day. The insurance company made the decision to settle the lawsuit for an amount that the insurance company believed it would cost to defend the lawsuit through trial. Clarkston School District did not admit any liability and the money paid in settlement came from the insurance company. 

Unfortunately, there has been misinformation that has been circulated through the community regarding the high school counselors who interacted with Robbie in the days and weeks prior to his passing. Specifically, there has been untrue information circulating that the high school counselors are not properly qualified and trained in suicide prevention. The school district has received information that there are students who may be having suicidal ideations who are choosing not to seek help from the counselors because of their mistaken belief, based upon the misinformation circulating in the community, that those counselors do not have the proper qualifications or training. The spreading of this misinformation could thus have tragic consequences. The Clarkston School District community should be aware that in connection with the litigation against it, the attorneys representing Clarkston School District hired a nationally renowned expert on preventing teenage suicide. That expert had provided our attorneys the opinion that the high school counselors are properly trained and qualified in suicide identification and prevention, and that Robbie’s tragic passing was not the result of any actions or inactions of any counselor. The Clarkston School District therefore hopes that everyone in the community encourages all students to seek out the counselors if they or anyone they know may be having suicidal ideations. We as a school district have confidence in our counselors and hope that everyone reading this can do their part to assure that all students have that same confidence.