THE teachers and former superintendent of Cebu International School (CIS) sued over the death of two students during a 2012 field trip have reached an amicable settlement with the students’ families.
In a statement published in a local newspaper, the CIS said the families of Kyle Julian Gullas Weckman and Korean student Jaehak Jung, the school, the former superintendent and the five teachers involved in the field trip “have amicably settled their differences.”
Department of Education (DepEd) 7 Director Carmelita Dulangon, in an interview with Sun.Star Cebu, said the DepEd no longer has a hold over the case after the parents of Weckman brought it to court.
Weckman, then 13, and Jung, then 14, drowned while swimming in a waterfalls during their field trip in Morong, Bataan on Sept. 12, 2012.
The parents of Weckman filed criminal and civil cases against the five teachers who were on the field trip and then CIS superintendent Deidre Fischer.
In the statement, the CIS expressed sympathy to the families of Weckman and Jung.
“We recognize that this public statement cannot possibly assuage the anguish of the family and friends of Kyle and James for their loss. We cannot turn back the hands of time but we will ensure that the memory of Kyle and James will continue to be cherished,” the school said.
The CIS said it will “continue to review, enhance and strengthen its safety protocols in order to do everything it can to prevent unfortunate incidents like this from happening.”