PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Two Salem-Keizer high schools started two hours late Monday after a school counselor passed away Sunday night, school officials announced.

McNary and South Salem High School parents were alerted early Monday about the late start following the death of school counselor Leah Anderson.

Anderson was a counselor at McNary High School for several years before moving to South Salem High School.

According to the Salem-Keizer School District, classes were delayed in order to give teachers time to process the information so they will be able to better support students throughout the day.

In the email sent to families, the district shared that Anderson was an important part of the counseling team and she focused on building relations with both staff and students.

“Late last night, we learned of the unexpected passing of one of our former school counselors, Leah Anderson, who had many deep ties with our staff and students,” the email read. “Leah had been part of our counseling team for several years before joining South Salem High School’s team this school year. She was always focused on building great relationships with staff and students. Leah was known for her friendly spirit and for being a tireless advocate for students.”

To help support students, the district said both high schools will have their Crisis Response Team on campus, and staff will be available for support.

The district also shared that all Salem-Keizer families have access to Care Solace, which provides mental health support to students, staff and families. There is also a list of resources for processing grief on the district’s website.