BHHS Memorial to Be Created in Honor of Student Who Died on Campus

The Beverly Hills Unified School District Board of Education is planning to create a memorial on the campus of in memory of , the 15-year old sophomore who died there Friday.

Natanzadeh, who died of an undetermined medical ailment, was laid to rest Tuesday, BHUSD Board of Education President Lisa Korbatov said at the panel's meeting Tuesday night. BHUSD Superintendent Gary Woods, BHHS Principal Carter Paysinger, BHHS Assistant Principal Toni Staser and board member Myra Lurie attended the service.

“All of us would have been there today but with such short notice we had things on our schedule we couldn’t move,” Korbatov said, noting that board members planned to visit the family to offer condolences, if the family was ready for such visits.

“I asked Gary if there was a way to remember Elena for many, many, many years to come,” she said. “This is the first child we have ever lost like this in the middle of the day at the school.”

Korbatov and Woods suggested that the board put a plaque near a tree on the front lawn of BHHS where students held a memorial service Sunday. Students continue to go there to remember Elena, she noted.

“As purple was her favorite color, maybe the plaque could have some purple, maybe with a sentence that described her,” Korbatov said.

Board member Jake Manaster suggested planting a new tree on the BHHS grounds that students could visit and watch grow.

“It would be more meaningful if we planted something that could grow as opposed to something that is already there, considering Elena’s age,” he said. “I would be the first to contribute to this [effort] so we could plant a substantial sapling that the students can visit.”

Whether the board plants a new tree or puts a plaque near the existing large tree, it will be careful to choose a spot that would hopefully not be disturbed by future , Korbatov noted. Woods will speak to Natanzadeh’s family members “at the appropriate time” to see what their wishes are, she said.

In addition to the memorial, Lurie suggested the board consider starting a scholarship fund or a foundation in Elena's memory.

Woods said much of the campus still remains greatly affected by Natanzadeh’s death.

“We have a number of students who have been greatly impacted by this, as well as staff members, and they continue to receive appropriate attention,” he said. “I want to recognize our staff at BHHS, our students, who were the first responders, the board [of education] who was there on task the entire time, and I could go on. … We send our deepest condolences to Elena’s family.”

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