The Bayfield School District said Ethan Grumke, who was recently charged with multiple felonies, was thoroughly vetted before being hired by the district in February.
Grumke, 27, was hired to teach math and coach the Bayfield High School football team. He resigned in June before starting any duties with the school district, citing personal reasons in his resignation letter, according to the school district. On Aug. 13, he was taken into custody in Durango.
Grumke was formerly a teacher, track coach and assistant football coach at Oak Grove High School in Missouri. He was charged with felonies for stalking and sending sex videos to students, including a female juvenile, according to Jackson County, Missouri, Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker. He is being held in the La Plata County Jail without bail.
“We made multiple reference calls. I don’t want to say we treated him differently from any other candidates,” said Kevin Aten, Bayfield superintendent. “He had a very good record before these very serious allegations came to light.”
The school district hiring process included interviews with the district and input from an interview committee, which included coaches, board members, parents and players.
When any teacher gets a license from the Colorado Department of Education, he or she is fingerprinted before the license is complete and the district receives a report if there are any issues. Grumke’s background check was conducted in the spring.
“His report did not have any flags,” Aten said.
The district checked social media and did an online search. For every candidate, the district calls at least three references, one of whom must be a current supervisor. For a high-profile position such as head football coach, the staff called even more references, Aten said.
“I don’t think we need to improve our processes,” he said. “We really do a thorough job.”
In the past year, the school district has passed on hiring candidates as a result of the district’s vetting process, he said.
Grumke sent in his resignation letter June 1, about two months before the charges against him were announced. He resigned before coaching or teaching duties began and never had contact with students.
“Clearly, there were things going on that no one knew about,” Aten said, adding that the timing and seriousness of the charges is “upsetting.”
If a similar situation came to light with any Bayfield employee, the person would be placed on administrative leave and the district would conduct an investigation.
“These are very serious charges and very serious allegations,” Aten said. “If these are true, and any time there’s harm to a young person, our heart would go out to the young people and the families involved.”
smullane@durangoherald.com
