How Modesto, Turlock schools plan to beef up pool security following student drowning
The Turlock Unified School District plans to strengthen its pool security in wake of the drowning of a high school student last weekend, while some other districts in the area also are reviewing their safety policies.
TUSD Director of Communications Marie Russell said changes are coming after the drowning death of Turlock High senior Angel Dominguez Jr. in his school’s pool.
On Monday night, the district notified students’ families that the 17-year-old student had passed away, and offered on-campus counseling to grieving students.
Dominguez was among a group of individuals that entered the locked swimming complex after hours, at about 11:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19, according to the district. While in the pool, members of the group noticed Dominguez was underwater.
He was pulled from the pool by first responders, who performed CPR for about 20 minutes before he was taken to Emanuel Medical Center, according to a report from the Modesto Fire Department, which oversees Turlock. Dominguez was placed on life support and passed away Monday night, according to a TUSD announcement.
The 15-school district has two pools at its comprehensive high schools, Turlock and Pitman.
Russell said the district plans to install an alarm system that will include 24-hour live monitoring by an outside security firm at both pools.
After-hours activity at outdoor pools at area schools is not uncommon. While districts have fencing, gates and trespassing warnings around their facilities, students and members of the public have been known to sneak in during the scorching Valley summers for a swim.
“During the summer months, particularly during excessive heat periods, there have been more instances of trespassers in our two high school pools,” Russell said.
When students are caught entering a closed pool area, Russell said, they are subject to the district student accountability policy. Russell said nonstudents found trespassing or breaking in are referred to the school resource officer or Turlock Police Department for investigation.
In the neighboring Modesto City Schools district, Chief Communications Officer Brittany K. Jackson said officials are reviewing pool security policies as well. The district has pools at six of its high schools (only Gregori does not), as well as an indoor therapeutic pool at Sonoma Elementary.
None of the pools are open to the public unless scheduled and approved through the district’s facility use program. The city of Modesto regularly runs its summer swim program at the Johansen High School outdoor pool.
Jackson said all MCS campuses are equipped with surveillance cameras and alarm systems. At the end of each instruction day, schools lock their buildings and gates and MCS security staff provide evening patrols on all campuses.
Still, she said district officials will be “actively assessing and reinforcing the perimeter fencing” around its pools.
“Modesto City Schools is saddened to learn about the unfortunate loss of a student from Turlock Unified School District. Our hearts go out to the entire TUSD community and to the loved ones impacted by this tragedy,” Jackson wrote in a statement about the Turlock incident. “MCS values the safety and security of our students, staff and community and is continually working to maintain safe and secure facilities.”
Other area district officials, including officials from Oakdale Joint Unified School District and Ceres Unified School District, also expressed their sadness at Dominguez’s passing and solidarity with the Turlock High community.
Oakdale Joint Unified Superintendent David Kline, whose district has one pool at Oakdale High, said that facility has two layers of locked fencing and gates, as well as video monitoring that can be accessed by school staff and the Oakdale Police Department.
He said the district regularly reviews its safety guidelines and measures, and reviews and changes them on an ongoing basis.
As in Oakdale, Ceres Unified School District has one pool, located at Ceres High. And district spokeswoman Beth Parker Jimenez said they also do ongoing reviews of their security measures in hopes of preventing similar tragedies.
“No one wants or expects this to happen and in fact, schools plan to prevent this from happening,” Kline said. “Schools and community members will remind everyone to be as safe as possible and follow rules and laws that are established for their safety.”
