David Gerding

SURREY – The events leading up to the Surrey School Board meeting July 24 began when Principal Tina Webb tendered her resignation in a letter to the school board July 7.

Webb said in the letter that her decision not to sign a contract for the next school year was due to “irreconcilable differences” with Gerding. 

“I am resigning on principle, as the current leadership practices do not align with my values of integrity, fairness, and respect. These misalignments have made it increasingly difficult for me to fulfill my responsibilities in a way that supports all staff equitably and fosters a healthy school culture,” Webb wrote. 

Webb wrote in her resignation letter she was willing to share additional details in an exit interview beyond previous concerns she indicated she had reported to Surrey School Board President Daniel Tyler and Vice President Ron Aberle.

Webb participated in an exit interview on July 13 with board members Lea Atterton and Amber Thiesen. Webb’s exit interview was reviewed by the board during a special meeting on July 16, which concluded with the board requesting Gerding’s written response to a number of questions regarding allegations made by Webb.

“The Surrey community is well served by a talented and dedicated staff at all levels in the district. As a function of the Board we are reviewing the challenges articulated by Mrs. Webb and considering opportunities to best serve our staff and students as we move forward,” Tyler said in an email response to a request for comment from The Minot Daily News.

According to the exit interview report obtained through an open records request, Webb alleged she experienced hostile treatment, intimidation and unprofessional behavior from Gerding, which hampered her ability to supervise all of the employees with the same standards. Webb primarily discussed instances concerning Gerding’s spouse, Sheila Gerding, the school’s athletic director and Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) teacher.

Webb said she had been instructed David Gerding should not play a part in the chain of command for supervising his wife but claimed multiple instances in which he inserted himself into situations involving her. 

Webb alleged that, in filling an open joint FACS/athletic director position, David Gerding declined to interview other applicants, leaving only his wife for consideration. At the time Sheila Gerding was the school’s guidance counselor and athletic director and was offered and accepted the FACS position. 

In his written responses to the allegations provided by the district after an open records request, David Gerding denied he was involved in the hiring process for the FACS/AD position and said he made it clear to Webb that she should independently manage the process. David Gerding said the ultimate decision was entirely up to Webb, and he didn’t know his wife had received the offer until she told him herself. 

According to the exit interview notes, Webb told Atterton and Theisen the “final straw” occurred around June 18 when she said she discovered during a review of teacher contracts that Sheila Gerding’s years of service had been inflated from seven to 12 years in documentation submitted by David Gerding to the Central Regional Education Association.

Webb said she and Elementary Principal Tarra Hysjulien spoke with then board president Ron Aberle on June 18 regarding the issue, telling him they feared retaliation and asked him to communicate with the superintendent about the situation. According to the interview notes, Webb said Aberle responded stating David Gerding had strong reactions due to prior issues with another school employee and was “protective.” 

Webb said later that day, Gerding called her following a conversation with Aberle and described him as “irate” at her for “going above his head to the board.” Webb told Atterton and Theisen that Gerding then began belittling and insulting her and questioned her experience.

“This double standard of explaining Mr. Gerding’s behavior as ‘protective’ is not acceptable as his duty in his professional capacity is to more than just his wife. The unprofessional and hostile communication and interactions I receive when it comes to me completing my assigned duties in supervising Mrs. Gerding is unwelcome and unacceptable,” Webb said in the exit interview response. 

David Gerding wrote in his response that in his 20 years with Surrey Public School he has never received a complaint regarding the accusations leveled by Webb. 

David Gerding said many of Webb’s claims regarding his manner were untrue and do not reflect the standards he holds himself to. David Gerding said Webb was a capable principal, but working with her presented “significant challenges.” He wrote in his response that he believed her resignation and complaints only arose after she did not receive a salary increase she requested. 

David Gerding claimed his wife’s years of experience took into account the years she spent coaching women’s basketball and teaching college level classes at Minot State University. 

Regarding the June 18 phone call with Webb, David Gerding wrote that he was surprised and confused when he was informed Webb had been reviewing teacher contracts. Gerding said he informed Aberle he felt Webb had stepped outside her professional responsibilities, particularly because she was not currently under contract herself at the time. 

“I want to acknowledge that I was not happy with Mrs. Webb stepping outside of her responsibilities and authority. I further acknowledge that my tone during the call may have conveyed frustration, and I may have raised my voice, but I was not unprofessional,” Gerding wrote in his response. “My intent was to clarify responsibilities and to address a breakdown in communication. However, upon reflection, I recognize that I could have handled the conversation more calmly and constructively.”

In her exit interview, Webb also pointed to Gerding’s response to the results of a Cognia Survey, in which staff shared concerns related to morale, feelings that certain staff were not adequately doing their jobs, presumed favoritism and concerns around leadership. Webb said Gerding was visibly upset by the survey and wanted to know who had written the comments. 

Webb raised a raft of other allegations against the Gerdings during her exit interview, such as using school facilities for personal use, greater attendance and spending liberties for Sheila Gerding compared to other staff and the mixing of the school with the Gerdings’ home business endeavors and their non-school sponsored events and athletic camps.

David Gerding denied Webb’s allegations that he and his wife had used school property for personal profit. In his written response to the board, David Gerding wrote that Sheila Gerding had donated to the school a portion of the funds raised from basketball tournaments she organized using the school gymnasiums.  David Gerding also denied any knowledge of Sheila Gerding conducting personal business during school hours and denied selling anything to school for profit himself. However, David Gerding acknowledged that Sheila Gerding had sold certain items to the school through a home business she operated and said that the board should contact her with any questions.

“I am not my wife’s supervisor, and I am not aware of her day-to-day operations. With that said, I would not allow my wife, or any other district employee, to plan, prepare or administer private tournaments while being compensated by the district,” Gerding wrote in his response.

Gerding denied accusations that he was aggressive or intimidating towards Webb and other staff,  writing in his response he was “genuinely surprised to hear that Mrs. Webb felt that I created an intimidating environment. That was never my intention.”

Gerding went on to write there were times during which he had to admonish Webb for “inconsiderate and inappropriate behavior.” Gerding concluded by denying the allegations of interference or favoritism toward his wife.

“Any decisions I made regarding schoolwide operations were intended to benefit the broader student body and staff and not individuals. I recognize that appearances can sometimes create misunderstandings, but I stand by the fact that I acted with fairness and integrity,” Gerding wrote.