DETROIT (WXYZ) — The Detroit Public Schools Community District has placed a swimming teacher on administrative leave after the death of a student.
The student was pronounced dead at a hospital after being found submerged in the school's swimming pool.
"We are committed to determine what caused this tragic loss at the highest level of transparency," the district said in a statement.
According to the medical examiner's office, the student was identified as 16-year-old Deshawn Blanding. There has been no cause and manner of death yet.
The district says that grief counselors will be available to students. No further information about the student will be released by the school and swim classes have been canceled, the district said.
Read the full statement from DPSCD below:
Yesterday’s loss of one of our students during school hours and at one of our schools has been one of the most difficult incidents we have endured as a School Board/Superintendent team. We are committed to determine what caused this tragic loss at the highest level of transparency once the facts surface regarding what occurred. If the conclusion of the investigation reveals any wrongdoing then we will be sure to hold any and all personnel or students accountable. At this point, the swimming teacher has been placed on administrative leave pending the conclusion of the investigation or the surfacing of more facts regarding the incident.
We will provide Mumford students with grief counselors as they requested by our students, staff and parents. We sincerely request that the media respect the confidentiality of the student we lost and allow the District and law enforcement to complete our investigation of the matter. We commit to fully updating the media and community about the incident once additional facts surface. We have nothing to gain from hiding the truth of this devastating loss. We owe our student, his family, and the Mumford community the truth and justice they deserve—and we are fully committed to that conclusion.
