November 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 23

ing understaffed and was uncomfortable about there
not being another full-time staff member present because she had never been to Camp Duncan. Schiller
said Barton agreed to " send a full-time staff member
with her to the camp during the day and overnight,
that she could call Vermeer and Barton when needed. "
In addition, Schiller was told she would have the " coleadership " of the two other employees going on the
trip: an intern, Hailey Haas, and a part-time staff member Braselina Sabini. Ultimately, Schiller told Barton
she was not worried about leading Camp Duncan.
After this meeting, Barton sent an email to the human resources manager (Darleen Negrillo) asking
whether NSSRD had " any information about medical conditions " that could interfere with Schiller's job
responsibilities. The email also said Schiller had mentioned (regarding Camp Duncan) that she " becomes
weak when standing for extended periods of time " and
that " fatigue and stress can weaken her. " Barton told
Negrillo that Schiller " did not appear to be concerned
about working the trip, but I need to know if these are
things that need to be taken into consideration moving
forward. " Negrillo responded that Schiller did not have
" any restrictions on file " and " knows her limitations
and would let them know if there was a concern. "
Barton did not send another full-time staff member to Camp Duncan. However, NSSRD's manager
of operations, Becca Zajler, Zajler's supervisor, Candace Cunningham, and another staff member, Mary
Kate Murphy, attended portions of the trip. Barton
and Murphy were also available by phone.
At the time of the Camp Duncan trip, NSSRD had a
policy that stated: " During the program, the Program
Leader/Site Coordinator will give medication to participants. " However, on August 15, 2016, the first day
of the camp, Schiller delegated medication distribution
to Haas and Sabini.
Moreover, though Schiller said she gave instructions
to the appropriate staff member, a camp participant
with a gluten restriction ate gluten the first day of camp.
At 11:30 p.m., Schiller called Vermeer, rather than the
on-call staff member, regarding the gluten issue.
On August 16, 2016, the second day of the camp,
Schiller hyperventilated, cried, lost feeling in her
hands and feet, had multiple panic attacks, decreased
mobility, difficulty speaking and increased pain. At
8:50 a.m. that day, Cunningham and Zajler went to
the camp and saw intern Haas administering medication to participants.

Schiller " acknowledged that she
was the assigned leader of the
trip and said she felt confident
that she could lead the trip
safely and successfully. "
Cunningham and Zajler told Schiller that she was the
leader of the trip, and as such, " needed to be overseeing
dietary restrictions and medication, " delegating behavior management issues, and calling a designated on-call
staff member when there were problems. Schiller " acknowledged that she was the assigned leader of the trip
and said she felt confident that she could lead the trip
safely and successfully. "
Later that day, Zajler told Schiller that Sabini would
leave the next morning because the participant assigned to Sabini was leaving the camp, but the participant's aide would remain. Schiller told Zajler that she
was frustrated, felt unprepared for the trip, and was
being pulled in too many directions as leader. Schil-

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Parks & Recreation

November 2019 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2019 - Parks & Recreation