Did Laura Chabe Overstep Her Role?

[Member 2358]

Most folks know that a girl died a couple of days ago. The strongest speculation is that the cause was some combination of H1N1/Swine influenza and pneumonia.

The girl was a student at Amherst Central High School.

I'd bet that the source of mosty everyone's knowledge of this event has come from the very public statements of the Amherst Central School District's Superintendent, Laura Chabe. Chabe's comments have been laced with comments to downplay any role that the school may/could have played in the girls illness.

I'm very unclear on why Chabe is making public announcements about the girls death. I've seen no indication that the girl's family requested Chabe as public spokesperson. Why would the school district announce a death? (Especially, if the girls death was not directly tied to the school.) I tend to think that Chabe stepped over some type of role-appropriateness line.

Thoughts?