It is sad but laughable that Superintendent K. Kevin Aten of the Bayfield School District is talking about a “positive culture shift” at Bayfield Middle School.

Aten blames COVID-19, teacher shortage and middle school culture as the reasons that there are so many positions yet to fill at Bayfield Middle School. But let’s be honest: difficulty in hiring is one thing, but losing 60% of your staff at a school in one season only happens when there are serious systemic problems. The reason so many people leave at one time is because the environment is toxic.

And the middle school is not the only area that has seen significant loss of staff. The school district has turned over approximately 70% of all teachers district- wide, and a lot of adminiostrative and support staff over the past three years since Aten was hired. It doesn't help that the district fired (let go, laid-off, canned, offered early retirement – pick your euphemism) several teachers and paraeducators who worked directly with students, while creating a new, unnecessary, desk job in administration for former Principal Leon Handhardt.

Blaming the situation on COVID-19 or the teacher shortage, or middle school culture is pathetic. The real culture that needs a positive shift is in the district administration. The real problem is Aten, the administrative team he built, the negative culture that they have created, and the school board for allowing it to happen – not COVID-19 or the teacher shortage or middle school culture.

Jason Mendoza

Bayfield