The Bridgeport School District is dealing with both sadness and concern Wednesday after an elementary school principal died of Legionnaires? disease.

Social workers and grief counselors were on hand at Garfield Elementary School to help students deal with the sudden death of their well-liked principal, Howard Reed. Although he will surely be missed by his young students, they may not fully understand Reed?s death. Health officials say Legionnaires? disease is usually contracted through bacteria in water. Although the state health department says Legionnaires? is not contracted through person-to-person contact, it plans to test the school's ventilation system as a precautionary measure.

Coworkers describe Reed as a fun-loving and warm individual. They say Garfield Elementary School will have to hire a new principal, but Howard Reed will never be replaced.Related Information: