SOUTH HADLEY - Even a working meeting about routine business Tuesday could not escape the specter of youth bullying and suicide.

Bruce MacCullagh, one the Selectboard's new members, said creation of a youth commission in town, as outlined in state law, could be discussed as a response to the request of several dozen residents. Those residents raised the issue when discussing bullying at the board's last meeting.

The community is struggling to come to terms with a 15-year-old South Hadley High School freshman's suicide last month. Authorities say the student, Phoebe Prince, had been bullied in person and through electronic media.

A youth commission could survey issues facing young people in town and make recommendations about actions that can be taken. "I would be surprised if they come back and say there's nothing we can do that we're not already doing," MacCullagh said.

The commission would consist of adults and high school-aged students and determine for itself what issues it would address, he said.

"This is a great idea," said Selectboard member Robert Judge. A youth commission would not interfere with the planned bullying task force being formed by the School Department, but work on a broader scale to address youth issues, he said.

Francis DeToma, the other new board member, said a youth commission would be an appropriate response to requests from parents for action. Judge said a call for volunteers should come jointly from the Selectboard and the School Committee, because residents want to see the boards working together to address the problem of bullying in town schools.

Marilyn Ishler, a Selectboard member, said the Recreation Commission should be involved if a commission is formed. She noted the town established a teen center several years ago, but it petered out.

MacCullagh agreed that recreation should be involved, but said sports are probably not an area in town that needs more attention. "If you're not in the arts and you're not in sports, then there's nothing for you to do in South Hadley until school starts," he said.

John Hine, the board chairman, asked Town Administrator Paul Beecher to make time available at next week's board meeting to more fully and openly discuss establishing a youth commission.

Prevention work

The Jan. 14 suicide has shifted the focus of many town boards on bullying and youth issues.

Tonight, members of the state Department of Public Health's Suicide Prevention Program will give a presentation to the School Committee. The presentation is a follow-up from a meeting held last week in the police station, attended by Judge.

Judge said the meeting included officials from the state Department of Mental Health and other mental health professionals, as well as school officials. "They told us we are not alone," Judge said. Five teenagers in five years have committed suicide in Needham, he said.

Ideas were exchanged and Jane Rathbun, director of guidance for the school, was asked about the mood of the school, Judge said. The school feels stressed and some students were being watched for signs they might harm themselves, she said, according to Judge.

The Selectboard has been invited to the meeting and should attend to support the School Committee and show its willingness to work together, he said.

"The School Committee is traumatized," said Judge. "Everybody who approaches the School Committee yells at them," he said.

"There have been trauma counselors in the high school for administrators," MacCullagh said.