Boy who drowned on school trip did not pass swim test

TORONTO — A 15-year-old student who drowned on a school-run camping trip this summer had not passed a required swim test, the Toronto District School Board said Wednesday, as it apologized to the teen’s family.

The board’s director of education, John Malloy, said that of the 32 students who went on the multiday canoe trip to Algonquin Park in July, 15 had failed the swim test. There was no documentation for two of the students, he said.

Jeremiah Perry disappeared under the water after going for an evening swim with other students. His body was found a day later.

“I’m deeply troubled by these findings, that such a critical safety requirement in our procedures appears not to have been followed,” said Malloy.

“On behalf of the TDSB, I offer our most sincere apology and regret. I also want to apologize to the families of the other students who went on the trip, even though they did not pass the swim test.”

Malloy said that the initial swim test took place in a lake, and that students who did not pass the first test would be required to take a second test at the C. W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute, the school Perry attended. However, the second test was neither provided nor offered.

“The information that we have is the students did not pass the test and should not have been on the trip,” Malloy said.

Two teachers who were on the trip have been placed on home assignment.

New procedures have already been put in place, according to Malloy, who said that school principals will now have to see a list of students who passed or failed a required swim test before the trip takes place, and that parents will be notified if their child passed or failed the test.

“I know that Jeremiah’s family wants us to take steps to ensure that this will never happen again,” said Malloy.

He said that there will be a thirdparty review of all TDSB excursions that, like a canoe trip, are classified as “high care” activities.

Malloy said an internal investigation is taking place to better understand how this incident have happened. He said that the investigation is still ongoing because some members involved, including the two teachers on the trip, have “exercised their legal right not to speak” at the advice of their legal council.