Community Corner
Wesley Child Care Issues Letter Addressing Cardenas Drowning
Center responds to the tragic death of a 4-year-old at Roosevelt Pool and specifies programming changes planned for the rest of summer.
One week after the executive director of the Glenview-based center expressed her sympathy and outlined program changes in a letter to families.
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“Words cannot express the heartache, sympathy and concern we have for the family of Vicente Cardenas,” Ellen Fagerburg wrote in a letter to Wesley families Thursday evening. Pioneer Press shared the letter on its website Friday. (Read the entire letter to the right).
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canceled its preschool swimming lessons for the rest of the summer, and will refund parents who have already paid for them, according to the letter.
Fagerburg also added that parents would be informed about swimming activities for school-age children when the Glenview Park District lifts the
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Shortly after the release of the letter however, the Park District announced that in an attempt to decrease the number of swimmers at the pool.
Wesley will resume its field trips for school-age children, but will revise its preschool field trip program, according to the letter. New field trip permission slips will be issued as well.
Cardenas was one of 19 children visiting Roosevelt Pool on a field trip from Wesley when he was Older children reportedly noticed him in a fetal position at the bottom of the pool and alerted lifeguards.
Cardenas was given CPR at the pool deck then rushed to Glenbrook Hosptial where
"If a 4-year-old who couldn't swim wound up downed, it means that someone failed to supervise and we all need to understand exactly how this happened," said Val Gurvits, the victim's uncle, in an interview with ABC 7.
According to the letter, Wesley’s staff will not discuss Cardenas’ drowning with parents, as the investigation into the incident remains open and the center is currently receiving legal counsel.
Both the and Department of Child and Family services are currently conducting investigations.
“We want you to know that Wesley is continuing to provide the safest, most nourishing, healthiest environment for your children to learn and grow,” Fagerburg wrote.
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