Penn Cambria student honored for saving classmate

McCloskey performed Heimlich maneuver on choking student

CRESSON -- The Penn Cambria School Board recognized one of its students for putting his lifesaving skills into action last month.

District officials said sophomore Isaac McCloskey potentially saved the life of one of his classmates during class Sept. 22.

The student reportedly choked on a mint, got up out of her seat and fell to the ground, according to high school Principal Ben Watt, who said her teacher tried to perform the Heimlich maneuver but was unable to lift the student off the ground.

That's when McCloskey sprung into action, performing the maneuver to dislodge the mint from the student's throat, Watt said.

Watt called McCloskey "an outstanding student."

"He makes us proud," Watt said. "We're very fortunate that he was there at the right place at the right time."

McCloskey wasn't present at the meeting for comment.

McCloskey reportedly learned the Heimlich maneuver this past summer at the Pennsylvania State Police's Camp Cadet youth program at Mount Aloysius College, Superintendent Jaime Hartline said, noting McCloskey is also a junior firefighter with Keystone Regional Fire Rescue Department in Cresson.

"We're proud to have that program locally and this is a reflection of the good that can come out of that," Hartline said, referring to Camp Cadet. "But most importantly, we're proud of Isaac for what he did on that day for one of his peers."

Board approves

stadium renovations

In other business, by a 7-2 vote, the board approved an agreement with Force Turf Solutions for renovations to the high school stadium, including site work, new artificial turf systems, new track surfacing and fencing at a base price of nearly $2.2 million.

Board members Matthew Kearney and Anthony Dziabo voted against the resolution to accept Force Turf Solutions' proposal for the project.

If needed, the resolution includes an additional cost for full bituminous replacement of the track was approved through a COSTARS contract at an amount not to exceed $191,250. Hartline said the additional cost would only be needed in the "worst case scenario," in which the company would have to remove all asphalt on the track and build a new one.

Kearney clarified that while he supports the district's athletic teams, he's opposed to the project, due to the costs. Penn Cambria still greatly appreciates all of its donors who have pledged about $1.5 million for the stadium revitalization initiative so far, he said.

"Hopefully the money keeps coming, but given the cost of this, I just can't support it," Kearney said.

Bryan Force, owner of the Indiana County-based turf company, presented the construction process to the board earlier in the meeting.

Before the project starts, the company will complete surveying, design work, permitting and site layouts, Force said, describing each of those processes in detail, along with turf installation, maintenance and showcasing images of some other projects his company completed.

Also by a 7-2 vote, with Kearny and board President Michael Sheehan opposed, the board retroactively approved an agreement with KU Resources to provide bidding services for the stadium renovation project at a cost of $6,772.50.

In addition, the board approved a construction change directive for J.C. Orr & Son to provide all labor, material and equipment to perform the work at the store front systems where openings are greater than 17 feet.

The contractor will proceed with the work in accordance with the general conditions of the construction contract, according to the meeting's agenda, which states the construction change directive will be issued at a cost not to exceed $35,000.

Middle school Principal Justin Wheeler closed out the meeting with an administrator's report, noting the school year is off to a great start so far, and that he's working to make sure students are safe, teachers feel supported and parents stay informed.

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.