XENIA, Ohio – An Ohio sixth-grader is dead and school officials and parents are scrambling for answers after the 12-year-old hung herself at school Tuesday.

Xenia Community Schools Superintendent Denny Morrison told WHIO television station school officials decided to hold regular school hours Wednesday and are “doing everything possible to comfort the students and the staff” following the horrific incident.

Medics were called to the school around noon Tuesday, shortly after the girl was seen chatting with friends at lunch. School officials don’t believe bullying was a factor in the student’s death, but currently “got more questions than answers” about what happened, Morrison said.

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“She was having a friendly discussion with her friends,” Morrison said. “It was an enthusiastic discussion. We do not believe there was any bullying involved.”

“It’s hard to process,” he said. “We’re trying to figure out why.”

The school district issued a statement to parents Tuesday, the news site reports.

“Our students are our number one priority and our treasure. Today, sadly, we lost one of prized possessions – a student at Central Middle School. The incident was not the result of an assault. Out of respect for the student’s family, we will not be releasing any additional information at this time,” the statement read.

“As a community, we must come together to support all our children. The children are our future and our brightest light.”

Morrison told WDTN 2 News the district brought in about a dozen grief counselors for students and staff Wednesday. There was no clear indication about why the girl committed suicide, he said.

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“This was a complete shock to us,” Morrison said, adding that the incident serves as a wakeup call.

“It just shows … that parents need to always be talking with their children. Children need to feel that like they can go to that respected adult, whether it be a parent, whether it be a teacher, whether it be their pastor, aunt etc. and tell them what’s on their mind, what they’re thinking,” he said.

The superintendent told WDTN he decided to resume classes Wednesday. District officials will continue to work with the Greene County Coroner’s Office and local police to understand what happened, he said.

“I wanted it to be as normal a day as possible. We brought in grief counselors that are working with the students that want somebody to talk to,” Morrison said. “We also brought in substitute teachers for if we have a teacher – our teachers care so much about kids and they do such a great job and it really hit them hard.”