FREEHOLD – Two staff members in the Freehold Borough K-8 School District have been recognized for their actions to save the lives of pupils.
On May 9, Board of Education members passed a resolution recognizing Laura Dilworth, a staff member at the Freehold Learning Center elementary school, for her life-saving actions on May 4.
According to district administrators, Dilworth responded to a pupil who was choking in the cafeteria. Dilworth successfully administered the Heimlich maneuver to the child and the student recovered from the incident.
On May 23, board members passed a resolution recognizing Veronica Fiori, a staff member at the Park Avenue Elementary School, for her life-saving actions on May 19.
According to district administrators, during an after-school program, Fiori responded to a pupil who was choking. Fiori successfully administered the Heimlich maneuver to the child and the youngster recovered from the incident.
The resolutions state that the Board of Education and the community recognize and honor Dilworth and Fiori for their actions above the call of duty.
During the May 23 board meeting, Superintendent of Schools Joseph Howe noted there have been four life-saving incidents in the school district this year.
“You don’t drive to work expecting that you are going to save your students’ lives,” Howe said. “I know we use the term ‘teachers are heroes,’ but this is in the truest sense of the word.”
Each staff member will receive a plaque in recognition of their life-saving efforts when the school district holds its annual awards ceremony this month.
In other school district business, the board has awarded a $2.64 million contract to Preferred Mechanical Inc. for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning project at the Freehold Learning Center.
According to district administrators, other base bids were received from Amco Enterprise Inc. ($3.09 million); Shorelands Construction Inc. ($2.77 million); and Thassian Mechanical Contracting Inc. ($2.68 million).
Preferred Mechanical was awarded the contract after submitting the lowest base bid and being deemed the lowest responsible bidder.