1070-R Administrative Regaulations Regarding Pool

The Newtown Board of Education (“Board”) establishes these procedures to govern the conduct of any student aquatic activity that takes place in its school swimming pools 

I. Definitions:

A. School Swimming Pool: means any swimming pool approved for use by the Board for student aquatic activities; 

B. Student Aquatic Activities: means any physical education class, interscholastic athletics or extracurricular activities offered to students by the Board that makes use of a school swimming pool; 

C. Qualified Swimming Coach: means any person who (A) holds a valid coaching permit issued by the State Board of Education, and (B) (i) is certified as a lifeguard by the American Red Cross or another nationally recognized organization that conducts aquatic training programs, (ii) has completed a safety training for swim coaches and instructors course offered by the American Red Cross or an organization approved by the State Board of Education, or (iii) was certified as a lifeguard for at least five years during the previous ten years and has at least five years' experience as a swimming coach or an instructor of a physical education course that makes use of a school swimming pool; 

D.  Qualified Educator: means any person who (A) holds a valid certificate issued by the State Board of Education, pursuant to section 10-145b of the general statutes, with an endorsement in physical education, (B) (i) is certified as a lifeguard by the American Red Cross or another nationally recognized organization that conducts aquatic training programs, (ii) has completed a safety training course for swim coaches and instructors course offered by the American Red Cross or an organization approved by the State Board of Education, or (iii) was certified as a lifeguard for at least five years during the previous ten years and has at least five years' experience as a swimming coach or an instructor of a physical education course that makes use of a school swimming pool, (C) is certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, pursuant to section 19a-113a-1 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies, as amended from time to time, and (D) has completed a course in first aid offered by the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, the Department of Public Health or any director of health;

E. Qualified Lifeguard: means any person who (A) is sixteen years of age or older, (B) is certified as a lifeguard by the American Red Cross or another nationally-recognized organization that conducts aquatic training programs, (C) is certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, pursuant to section 19a-113a-1 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies, as amended from time to time, and (D) has completed a course in first aid offered by the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, the Department of Public Health or any director of health. 

II. Mandatory Supervision

A.  In addition to the person responsible for conducting any student aquatic activity that makes use of a Board school swimming pool, there shall be at least one qualified educator, qualified swimming coach or qualified lifeguard who shall be solely responsible for monitoring such school swimming pool during such student aquatic activities for swimmers who may be in distress and providing assistance to such swimmers when necessary. 

B.  Any physical education course that makes use of a Board school swimming pool shall have at least one qualified educator who shall serve as the instructor of such physical education course and be responsible for implementing the provisions of the school swimming pool safety plan, and at least one qualified educator, qualified swimming coach or qualified lifeguard whose primary responsibility is to monitor the school swimming pool for swimmers who may be in distress and provide assistance to such swimmers when necessary. 

C.  Any interscholastic athletic activity that makes use of a Board school swimming pool shall have at least one qualified swimming coach who shall serve as a coach of the participating students and be responsible for implementing the provisions of the school swimming pool safety plan, and at least one qualified educator, qualified swimming coach or qualified lifeguard whose primary responsibility is to monitor the school swimming pool for swimmers who may be in distress and provide assistance to such swimmers when necessary. 

D.  Any extracurricular activity that makes use of a Board school swimming pool shall have at least one qualified lifeguard who will monitor the school swimming pool for swimmers who may be in distress and provide assistance to such swimmers when necessary, and be responsible for implementing the provisions of the school swimming pool safety plan. 

III. Plan Review

The Board’s Pool Safety Plan shall be reviewed and updated as necessary prior to the commencement of each school year. 

Legal References:  

State Law:

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-220l

Adopted: April 1, 2025