Superintendent: Whiteland student apparently drowned during PE class

News 8 video with this story is of the news conference of the Clark-Pleasant Schools leader on Wednesday afternoon.

WHITELAND, Ind. (WISH) — The superintendent of Clark-Pleasant Schools talked Wednesday about the apparent drowning of a student a day earlier in the Whiteland high school pool.

A 15-year-old girl died after being pulled from the Whiteland Community High School swimming pool, the Johnson County coroner says. A medical examination was completed Wednesday, but the cause of death will not be determined until toxicology results are processed, which could take up to three weeks.

GoFundMe information shared at the news conference identified the girl as Alaina Dildine.

At a Wednesday afternoon news conference at the administration building, Superintendent Patrick Spray said, “Our understanding is that the student was in the pool during PE class swimming laps with the other students. When the student went under the water near the bulkhead that divides the pool, there was a lifeguard and an instructor on the pool deck.”

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation, Spray says.

The pool will be closed for the rest of the school year, which ends for students on May 26.

Spray also said, “We will work with the family so that they know about available resources both at school and in the community. They have been a part of the Clark-Pleasant Schools for many years.”

Students were dismissed at 1 p.m. Tuesday after the death, and the high school did not have classes Wednesday. Spray says classes will resume Thursday, and additional counselors will be available at the high school for the remainder of the school year.

Whiteland was hit by a tornado on March 31. A Whiteland high school student was fatally shot in August at a bus stop. Spray noted at the news conference, “It has been an exceptionally rough school year with regards to the enormous trauma that we’ve encountered.”

Statement

“This past Tuesday every parents’ worst nightmare became our reality. We lost our beloved
daughter, Alaina, when she drowned during P.E. class at Whiteland Community High School.

“Our entire family is deeply devastated by this unforeseen tragedy and requests privacy and respect
from the media and the public as we mourn the loss of Alaina. We are in a state of profound grief
and shock, and we ask for time and space to grieve and remember Alaina in peace.

“We kindly request that all media outlets and representatives refrain from contacting the family
directly or attempting to interview them. We understand the media’s interest in covering this tragic
incident, but we ask for your understanding and empathy by respecting our wishes for privacy.

“We would also like to extend our gratitude to all of the friends, relatives, and even strangers who
have reached out since this tragedy. We can’t tell you how much we appreciate the outpouring of
love, condolences, and prayers from the community during this heart-wrenching time.

“In order to ensure the privacy and well-being of the family, we kindly request that any inquiries
be directed to our family attorney, Stephen Wagner. Thank you.”

The Family of Alaina Dildine on May 19, 2023