Fact Check: Throughout contract negotiations last spring, the Superintendent repeatedly claimed that the district could not afford the pay increase proposed by the union. Negotiations broke down in May and went to mediation in July. There, a state mediator who is professionally trained in school budgets determined that the proposed pay increase was in fact feasible for the district, and fiscally responsible. Legally a state mediator cannot allow a district to agree on a contract that the school budget can’t support. In the end, the teachers won their contract in full because the district could in fact afford it. Previous to the new contract, Bandon teachers were among the lowest paid on the entire Southcoast, despite Bandon having the highest cost of living of any town in Coos and Curry County.

Fact Check: 86% of union members have lost confidence in the Superintendent and come forward describing a hostile and retaliatory workplace. That’s 28 teachers. Parents & community members have been speaking up, writing letters, and filing complaints for months, but the district has repeatedly denied and ignored their concerns.

Fact Check: The teachers’ contract specifically states that “An involuntary transfer will be made only after a meeting between the teachers and the principal at which time he will be notified of the reasons for the transfer.” Teachers were notified of the transfers via email; no prior meetings were held. Past practice for transfers at BSD has always involved a meeting - either a staff meeting, or a one-on-one meeting - to discuss district needs and seek teachers’ input about how best to move teachers around to meet those needs.

Fact Check: District leadership is responsible for the tone, culture and climate within the district. Since May the Superintendent has responded to complaints and concerns in a manner that has escalated the situation. A skilled leader is able to de-escalate conflict, to lower the temperature, to take ownership of the problems, and to find meaningful solutions. That is not the kind of leadership we have seen at BSD.

Fact Check: Since the Superintendent started in 2021 the district has had three different business managers, a position that works closely with the Superintendent daily and is responsible for crucial financial management and the stability of long-term operations. Two of those business managers were driven out due to hostile and unprofessional behavior from the Superintendent. Such high turnover leads to errors in financial records, disruptions in services, and loss of institutional knowledge.

Fact Check: The Superintendent has missed multiple opportunities to bring additional revenue to the district. She forfeited $30,000+ in already-secured ODE grant funds for summer outdoor programs in 2021. She turned down $8,000 from the Bandon Education Foundation, a charitable organization started by former Superintendent Doug Ardiana. She failed to secure available state grants to fund summer programs in 2025, leaving Bandon kids without school-sponsored summer enrichment options this year. Families have left the district due to negative experiences with the Superintendent and Board, taking with them $18,400 of state dollars per student.

Fact Check: The former Director of Operations managed the first $4.2 million of the $8 million Bond project (completing the HVAC, roofing, fencing and security upgrades for the school). He also served as full time transportation director and oversaw day-to-day operations. He was paid $67,000 per year. When he asked to be compensated for managing the bond project, the Superintendent denied his request. She eventually offered him a $2,117.40 stipend, to be paid upon completion of the Bus Barn. In 2023 he resigned due to mistreatment and hostile work environment. The Superintendent then hired a close personal friend to replace him. The new Director of Operations is paid $130,000/year to manage the second half of the bond project as well as day-to-day operations. That’s almost twice what the former director was paid and $45,000 more than the highest paid teacher in the district. It’s also more than any Principal is paid at Bandon. Additionally, since the former Director of Operations resigned, the district has also had to employ a separate Transportation Director who is paid $54,600/year.

Fact Check: Oregon law (ORS 244.040) prohibits both actual and potential conflicts of interest, including situations where a public official’s personal relationships could reasonably be perceived to influence their decision-making. Under state ethics law and the Oregon School Boards Association’s (OSBA) governance standards, board members must declare and avoid conflicts and recuse themselves from discussions or votes where impartiality could be compromised.

In Oregon school districts, the Superintendent is the sole employee of the School Board, meaning the Board alone is responsible for hiring, evaluating, and—when necessary—terminating the Superintendent’s contract. Impartial oversight is therefore essential to lawful and ethical governance.

At least two current Bandon School Board members maintain close personal friendships with the Superintendent, including regular socializing and shared vacations. One of these individuals serves as the Board Chair, who has denied multiple requests for an independent 360-degree performance review of the Superintendent despite ongoing complaints and allegations of misconduct.

Both board members have refused to recuse themselves from deliberations or votes concerning the Superintendent. One went further—publishing an open letter publicly defending district leadership and referencing her friendship with the Superintendent while the Board was actively deliberating a union grievance involving the Superintendent’s conduct.

These circumstances constitute at minimum the appearance of a conflict of interest and raise serious concerns about the Board’s ability to provide independent oversight of its sole employee, as required by Oregon law and governance standards.

Fact Check: Personal threats and intimidation are never acceptable. Period. Our community has only used appropriate, condoned channels to express our concern: emails, letters, in-person meetings, public comment and formal complaints. The Board and the Superintendent have deflected, denied and ignored what has become an overwhelming community concern. Until they take action, we will continue to advocate for better conditions for teachers, staff and students. Do Better BSD.