Letter to the Superintendent and High School Principal re: Science Classes
October 27, 2025
Dear Ms. Schmerer and Dr. Dockery,
As parents of BHS students, we are writing to express our concern about Cal Taylor’s unexplained leave of absence and the negative impact it’s having on the quality of education our kids are receiving. Our children are all enrolled in Mr. Taylor’s courses this semester – Physical Sciences and Chemistry – but since he was removed from the classroom they no longer have a qualified instructor. The classes have gone online and/or are being taught by subs who do not have the appropriate subject expertise. This is of particular concern in chemistry, which is an advanced course.
Our kids have been coming home disappointed and frustrated by what’s happening in their classes this Fall. According to our students, thus far Physical Science classes have consisted of “watching a sub press play on a video with an occasional packet to fill out.” With a lackluster canned curriculum, gifted students are not being challenged and curiosity is not being sparked in students who deserve an opportunity to bloom with inspired, qualified instructors. That is the basic and fundamental premise of education, and it’s the responsibility of district leadership to ensure it. Some of our students experienced this same failure of the Bandon schools last year, when Mrs. Frakes was hired as the long-term sub for 9th and 10th grade math. We had hoped that situation was an unfortunate anomaly, but more and more it’s becoming a predictable and deeply problematic pattern at Bandon: that our kids are not receiving adequate instruction in the classroom due to the loss of high quality teachers. If we believed that online coursework was the best way to learn, we would be homeschooling or enrolling at Winter Lakes.
There has been no information or explanation provided for Mr. Taylor’s absence, only rumors. If circumstances were different within the district right now we might be more patient with the process and timeline. But unfortunately, parents have lost a great deal of trust in the district since last spring as we have witnessed the Superintendent and administration make poor leadership decisions that have created a hostile and toxic environment for teachers, consequently driving four of them out of the district within the past three months – Ms. Pearson, Ms. Guzman, Ms. Hawthorne and, most recently, Ms. Shipp.
We are aware that Cal Taylor filed a union grievance with the district three days before being put on leave. We cannot help but wonder if this is yet another example of retaliation against a union member, and that the district is fabricating a narrative to further intimidate teachers and/or intentionally drive Mr. Taylor out. If indeed this is the case, then you are playing games with our children’s education and they will be the ones most harmed in the process. We understand that the criminal investigation into Mr. Taylor found no evidence of wrongdoing, according to the Bandon Chief of Police. We have also learned that there is a history of the district targeting the Taylor family since 2021.
We request that the district make a good faith effort to communicate with families about these issues:
In Mr. Taylor’s absence, what is your plan for ensuring at least the same, or better, quality of education that we were expecting when our kids enrolled in his courses at the start of this semester? Staring at a screen for online coursework instead of doing hands-on labs with an experienced instructor are not the same thing.
What is the nature of the investigation being conducted, and by whom?
What is the process, timeline, and the estimated date of resolution?
As parents, we deserve to be informed about these things - which have significant consequences for our kids’ education - so that we can determine for ourselves if Bandon schools are the best option for our families.
We would appreciate your prompt response.
Sincerely,
Amber Burg
Anna Cruz
Jessica Markham Brink