SEATTLE — A Ballard High School Science teacher was disciplined for leaving students behind on a field trip.
Noam Gundle cut the field trip short to attend a teacher rally in May 2015.
The Seattle School District human resources investigator recommended Gundle be terminated, but the superintendent gave him a seven-day suspension without pay instead.
According to documents obtained by our news partner, KIRO Radio, Gundle had permission from the school to take 18 high school students on a field trip, with three chaperones, to Deception Pass May 17-19, 2015.
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Days before the field trip, Gundle decided to make that field trip last only one night so that he could attend the teacher walkout on May 19th. Thousands of teachers attended the one-day "strike" to get state lawmakers to fund education.
Most of the students returned with Gundle and the other chaperones, in two vans, but according to the school district's investigation five students stayed behind unchaperoned. They camped one more night and then drove themselves home.
The only adult was a 19-year-old boyfriend of one of the students.
The district acknowledges Gundle got permission from some of the parents, but at least one parent did not give permission. The investigation revealed the district was uncertain whether or not parents knew the students would be unchaperoned if they stayed the second night.
After investigating, the district's human resources department recommended Gundle be terminated.
Superintendent Dr. Larry Nyland wrote a discipline letter to Gundle and stated,"You put them at great risk when you abandoned them."
But Nyland didn't fire Gundle. Instead, he gave him a 10-day suspension without pay.
When Gundle appealed, it was lowered to seven days.
Gundle was back at Ballard High School and taught all last year.
KIRO 7 requested an interview with the Seattle School District and was told that Superintendent Dr. Larry Nyland was out of town. While the district could not discuss this personnel matter specifically, a district spokesperson released the following statement about the Superintendent’s process:
- "Superintendent Nyland personally reviews every case that results in a suspension or termination of a certified staff member.
- The specific facts of each case, as well as prior discipline, similar cases, and the perspectives of Executive Directors of Schools, the principal, and legal counsel are considered.
- Dr. Nyland also provides the employee facing disciplinary action with an opportunity to meet in person with him so that they, usually accompanied by their union representative, can explain certain facts to him and express a desired outcome.
- During this process, Dr. Nyland may learn of facts or information that influences the final outcome, such as a staff members' willingness to change his or her behavior or willingness to obtain counseling.
- Superintendent Nyland takes his role and responsibility in these cases very seriously and makes every effort to make sure staff are treated fairly, equitably, and with an opportunity to change behaviors, yet at the same time balancing the need to set standards and enforce rules so that students, families, and other staff are protected."
Noam Gundle did not respond to KIRO 7's request for an interview. Gundle did submit a statement to the district and cooperated with the investigation. Gundle wrote,
" I would never ever do anything to endanger or threaten the life or health of a student or chaperone, and I would never ever do anything that I know is off limits or disallowed. This was a judgement call in the moment, brought on by circumstances beyond my control. I am open and ready to receive feedback of how I specifically could have dealt with this matter differently."
Cox Media Group
