Barnstable High School staff reinstated after students left behind on Boston field trip

Two Barnstable High School staff members that chaperoned an April 6 school trip to Boston where two students were left behind have been reinstated, after being placed on leave. A third staff member was fired and planned an appeal.

The school-sponsored field trip on a school bus was to a Belle of the Ball prom dress selection event at the John B. Hynes Veterans Convention Center in Boston. The two students who were left behind were brought back to the Cape later that day by organizers of the Belle of the Ball.

School Counselor Raffaella Almeida had a limited role in planning the trip as well as in accounting for all the students at the end of the field trip, Barnstable Public Schools Superintendent Sara Ahern said in a letter emailed to parents on Aug. 23.

"Based on Ms. Almeida’s statements to me, which I found both honest and credible, it is clear to me that her limited role in the incident does not warrant her dismissal," said Ahern.

"I have, therefore, returned her to her position at the high school," said Ahern.

Project Excel/Dual Enrollment Program Director Alik Taylor was also reinstated, according to Ahern in a Sept. 2 email to the Times. Ahern didn't comment further on what led to Taylor's reinstatement.

Associate Principal Hope Taylor, also placed on leave, was not reinstated. In mid-August, Taylor said by text that she was planning to appeal. In a post on her personal Facebook page , Taylor thanked the community for their support.

Identity revealed to the public

In Ahern's letter to school families, she confirmed that Almeida was one of the employee-chaperones initially issued a Notice of Intent to Dismiss. The identity of Almeida as one of the employee-chaperones on that trip was, "regrettably, revealed to the public," Ahern said.

"This also resulted in it being revealed that I issued a Notice of Intent to Dismiss Ms. Almeida from her employment. Personnel records are intended to be private and confidential and these facts should not have been revealed to the public," Ahern said in her letter.

In the letter, Ahern said the safety and security of Barnstable students is the single most important obligation of the Barnstable Public Schools.

"We deeply regret this incident," said Ahern.

Rachael Devaney writes about community and culture. Reach her at rdevaney@capecodonline.com . Follow her on Twitter: @RachaelDevaney.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Barnstable High School staff reinstated after students left behind on Boston field trip