The town of East Hartford has voted to settle a claim filed by the estate of a teen who drowned at East Hartford High School.
The East Hartford Board of Education voted unanimously to settle a claim with the estate of Marcum Asiamah for $1.5 million, according to the town council clerk’s office.
Marcum, a 15-year-old freshman, drowned during physical education class on Jan. 11. Family members said Marcum did not know how to swim and these were apparently his first swim lessons.
Town officials said the town would play $500,000 and the town’s insurer would pay the rest.
Two high school students drown in school pools in Connecticut in 2012. In November, Malvrick Donkor drowned in the pool at Manchester High School.
State Rep. Steven Dargan proposed legislation to establish school pool safety guidelines after the two fatalities. On Jan. 9, the legislation was referred to the joint committee on public safety and security.
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