Bellevue teacher sues to get job back after being drunk at school
BELLEVUE -- A Bellevue teacher was fired for showing up to work drunk. Now he’s suing the district to get his job back.
The former physical education teacher is not disputing the fact that he was intoxicated when he came to work at Chinook Middle School in February, or that he initially lied about how much he had to drink. What he’s saying is that day was a wake-up call about his alcohol problem, and he deserves a second chance now.
“I guess I’m shocked. How does that happen?” Bellevue parent Julie Davis said. “What are the parameters put in place to prevent that in the future?”
In February, the school's assistant principal reported smelling alcohol on Erik Schock's breath and said the teacher had slurred speech. Schock was questioned and later tested. According to a report detailing the allegations, a toxicologist estimated that Schock's blood alcohol level would have likely been around .15 when school started that morning -- nearly double the legal limit for driving.
“That’s definitely grounds to be let go,” parent Hugh Labossier said.
But Schock filed a suit in King County Superior Court earlier this month, claiming the district did not have sufficient cause to terminate him. He argues his conduct is not “flagrant misconduct” and the appropriate response should have been counseling or other assistance.
“I would have sent him home, have him driven home,” Labossier said. “Then we would talk about whether he needs some sort of help, but he would not be allowed back to work.”
“Most schools are no tolerance. No tolerance drugs or alcohol,” Davis said. “So I think in that profession, no, there's no tolerance. There are no more chances.”
A court will decide. A retired judge who reviewed the case last month said even if Schock seeks treatment for his drinking, “the students in the district should not have to run the risk that he will have one or more repetitions of the same behavior.”
The school district said they could not comment on a pending legal suit.