Oskaloosa school principal drowns in swimming accident in Lake Michigan

OSKALOOSA, Iowa (KCRG) – The Oskaloosa Community School District is mourning the news that Middle School Principal Mark Scholes passed away while on vacation with his family.

On July 9, officials at Ludington State Park were alerted to a report of a person struggling in the water. According to police, several people entered the water to help the person (later identified as Scholes), but by the time they reached him, he had already slipped beneath the surface. People were able to find him underwater and pull him onto a raft and then to shore, where CPR was begun. He was pronounced dead at Corewell Health Ludington Hospital.

In a social media post, the school district said Scholes was a “dedicated educator and leader who has had an incredible impact on our students, staff and community.”

The district is offering grief counseling for students on Thursday, July 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Students can go to Oskaloosa Middle School and receive counseling from counselors.

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