Drowned Wenatchee student’s coach reinstated

WENATCHEE — A Wenatchee High School teacher and coach who was fired over a student drowning will be reinstated.

A Chelan Superior Court judge ruled Monday that district and school administrators contributed to the situation that led to the Nov. 2011 drowning of freshman Antonio Reyes in the school pool.

The Wenatchee World reports the judge ordered Ed Knaggs reinstated with back pay.

Knaggs was fired after the district said he failed to properly asses the student’s swimming abilities. Reyes did not know how to swim.

Judge Lesley Allan blamed the district for putting Knaggs in the position of being lifeguard, swim tester, swim teacher and fitness instructor for classes of two- and three-dozen students.

The district settled a wrongful death lawsuit with the Reyes family in 2012 for $2 million.