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Nothing, however, could prepare team members for losing one of their own.

School administrators were stunned Tuesday to learn of the death of Amy Derieg Boehms. As Lapeer schools were opening for the first day of classes, Lapeer City Police and Lapeer County EMS discovered the body of the 41-year-old woman at her home about 11:23 a.m. and while the death remains under investigation, foul play is not suspected.

Boehms joined the district last year as director of special education, coming from Allegan County on the state's west side where she was on the staff of the Allegan County Intermediate School District for 12 years.

A subdued Superintendent Debbie Thompson told school board members Thursday night that a reception for staff and family members had been planned for Friday in the Irwin Board Room at the Administration and Services Center.

Thompson told board members Boehms "was a very special individual." Thompson added, "She really had an impact on special education."

Board President Bill Laidlaw commented, "It's a major loss to the district. She leaves a major void to fill." Laidlaw said he'd last seen Boehms at a welcome breakfast for staff Aug. 28 and "you would have never guessed this was going to happen."

Thompson said Boehms' passing was the first death of an active staff member during her three years at the helm of Lapeer schools. She said that while there have been deaths among staff spouses and staff members out on sick leave have passed away, "this was out of the blue."

She noted that since Boehms was an administrator, her passing hasn't had an immediate impact on students, but the impact on staff has been huge. Thompson said the district sent out mass e-mails to staff Tuesday and Wednesday and plans to bring in specialists for the crisis team next week.

Thompson said Boehms had a 20-year-old son, a sister in Austria and a brother and other relatives in New Mexico, where she was from originally. Thompson said that while family members were in town Thursday, funeral arrangements had not been finalized.

The loss of Boehmns leaves the district beginning the school year with a serious gap in its administration. Thompson said she is working with Terri Johnson at the Lapeer Intermediate School District to get a temporary replacement in the special education department, hopefully, by Monday.

She said she'll be looking for an retired special education director to take over on an interim basis for the balance of the school year. Thompson said she'll likely begin the search for a permanent replacement for Boehms about the first of the year.

Thompson said, "She was here a really short time, but made a big impact."

Phil Foley may be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8148 or pfoley@lapeergroup.com.