Kingston High School student involved in fight that injured assistant principal faces felony charge

KINGSTON, N.Y.— A 15-year-old student who was involved in the fight last week in which a Kingston High School assistant principal was injured will face a felony assault charge in Ulster County Family Court, city police said on Tuesday.

Detective Tim Bowers  said that when a school employee is injured as the result of an assault on school grounds, the person deemed responsible is automatically charged with a felony.

The second student in last Thursday’s fight is being charged with disorderly conduct, a violation.

Bowers said he could not provide the name of the student charged with the felony because the youngster is a juvenile. The detective said he did not have the name of the other student, who is older.

Kingston school district Superintendent Paul Padalino said the assistant principal, Michael Millan, was injured when he got between two students who were fighting and has been out of work since.

Millan has been sore in the aftermath of the fight but was not seriously injured and should be back to work soon, Padalino said.

The two students were taken to Millan’s office after fighting in a hallway after one bumped into the other and tempers flared, school officials have said.

Padalino said Millan was trying  to mediate the conflict when he was injured and was not targeted by the pair.

“He did what AP’s do,” said Padalino, who has praised Millan for “quick thinking” and taking actions “to protect students and staff.”

The superintendent described the criminal charges as appropriate and said school officials also are pursuing disciplinary action against the pair.

“Schools are for learning and are no place for this type of activity,” Padalino said.

The students involved in the fight are facing five-day suspensions and superintendent’s hearings, which can result in further discipline, James Shaughnessy, president of the school board, has said.