Thursday, May 18, 2023
President Swayne and members of the Faculty Assembly Executive Board quickly condemned the actions of a former NIC employee who entered Trustee Todd Banducci’s business office unannounced on Tuesday. The former employee, Zachary Shallbetter, verbally threatened Banducci and threw a bucket of water with cleaning chemicals at Banducci, drenching his desk, office computer and other equipment.
As the Board of Trustees gathered for a special meeting Wednesday night, President Swayne asked for a few minutes of personal privilege during which he made it clear: “Violence and physical intimidation are simply NOT OK, not on this campus or in any setting.
After learning of the incident, President Swayne took immediate steps to ensure that those at the college were safe.
In his statement, President Swayne shared that Mr. Shallbetter had a one-year contract with NIC and his departure from the college “had nothing to do with Trustee Banducci or the board.”
NIC’s Faculty Assembly Executive Board also issued a joint statement to the Board Wednesday:
“The Faculty Assembly Executive Board condemns the actions of a former North Idaho College Faculty’s battery against Trustee Banducci and his business,” the statement said. “Such actions are completely unacceptable. Our thoughts go out to Trustee Banducci and his employees.”
Following the incident, Trustee Banducci released a written statement to a reporter saying that the former employee had “terrorized and traumatized the individuals working in our building.”
“Violent events in the workplace like this create a sense of fear and vulnerability for everyone involved,” he said.
Mr. Shallbetter was arrested and cited with battery and malicious injury to property.