Board recognizes Kingston High students and staff for quick response to pool injury

The Board of Education recognized Kingston High School students and staff for their response to a January 8 swimming-pool incident in which a diver landed awkwardly and required spine stabilization.

Superintendent Dr. Patalino asked Rachel Myers to introduce the recognitions. The board honored several students and staff involved in the rescue chain of care: coaches and lifeguards who initiated emergency actions, student teammates who assisted the injured diver to the side of the pool, trained lifeguards who backboarded and stabilized the swimmer, and Kingston Fire Department personnel who transported the student to the hospital for evaluation. The board commended the group for acting quickly and following emergency protocols.

Those recognized included coach Heather Crowley (American Red Cross lifeguard instructor), students Gio DeFelice (7th grade), Dominic DeFelice (senior), Gianna Bertullo (junior lifeguard on duty), Keegan Burkhardt (senior lifeguard), and Youssef Rezek (sophomore who alerted staff). The board also noted Dominic Chang, the district spelling-bee winner, was not present and will receive his recognition separately.

The district said the injured student was transported to a hospital for evaluation and was cleared there; the board did not provide further medical details, citing privacy rules. Trustees described the incident as an example of teamwork and commended staff and students for following emergency procedures and for prompt collaboration with emergency responders.