PAXTON – Grief counseling is being provided to students and staff at Paxton-Buckley-Loda Junior High School after the unexpected death of a student who had been ill with flu-like symptoms.

"The PBL school community is deeply saddened by the unexpected death of Natalie Johnson, a sixth-grade student," said Superintendent Cliff McClure. "Our hearts and prayers go out to the Johnson family at this time."

Natalie died Tuesday after being taken to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Paxton Police Chief Bob Bane confirmed.

The cause of her death was not immediately known. Officials with the Ford-Iroquois Public Health Department said the child had been ill with a fever, but they are awaiting an autopsy report from the Champaign County Coroner's Office before determining if there is a community health concern.

Meanwhile, as a precaution, the health department is encouraging parents of children who possibly had been in contact with Natalie in recent days to seek medical attention immediately and also to call the health department if their children display any flu-like symptoms or high fevers.

"If the autopsy comes back as a confirmed communicable disease, and we have people that have called in with the symptoms of that disease, then we can go to those people as opposed to finding them in the crowd ... which will help us put the puzzle pieces together," said public information officer Julie Clark.

Clark said the coroner's office has indicated that the autopsy results would not be finished until Monday. Coroner Duane Northrup did not immediately return an e-mail and calls.

Preventive medication has been provided to Natalie's family, "in case certain things come out through the autopsy," Clark said.

Preventative medication is not being given to students at PBL Junior High School, Clark said, but she said the health department is "doing some research as far as what students sat around her and maybe had close contact with her."

McClure said he will continue to keep in close contact with the health department as more information becomes available. He added that the school district continues to monitor symptoms of students and be "very vigilant" in its efforts to limit the spread of diseases within its four schools.

Natalie's father, Michael Allan Johnson of Loda, in a post on Facebook on Wednesday morning, said his daughter "was the sweetest, most innocent child you could hope to meet, and I am devastated."

"I know she is in Heaven now, but I wish I could have her back with me and her family."

McClure said the school district is providing grief counseling to students and staff and will continue to do so as long as it is needed.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at the Evangelical Covenant Church, Paxton. Visitation is Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Baier Family Funeral Services, 406 E. Pells St., Paxton.

PBL High School's varsity and sophomore boys' basketball games, scheduled for Friday night at Clifton, have been postponed to allow students to attend Natalie's visitation, said PBL High School Athletic Director John Overstreet. A makeup date will be set later, he said.

Natalie's obituary appears on today's page B-4.