Letter to the Board from Karina Taylor re: BEA Vote of No Confidence

November 2, 2025

Dear Bandon School Board,

 At the last board meeting, on 10/13/25, the Certified union submitted a letter to the board with their vote of no confidence in the Superintendent Shauna Schmerer. That was a formal, public declaration that a large majority of the Certified Teachers have lost trust and faith in the Superintendent's leadership, performance, and decision-making abilities.  A signed letter like that is also a direct request for investigations, corrective action and/ordismissal. 

1.Since that letter was submitted, what steps has the school board taken to systematically review/investigate the Superintendent's actions over the last 4+ years?

1) Investigation into all involuntary transfers to assess whether targeted retaliatory practices were performed against staff involved in union negotiations.  2) Investigation into collaboration and communication process with staff impacted by significant transfers (not just minor schedule changes) 3) Investigation into transfer of teachers into areas outside of their expertise and the exact documented reason those transfers were made. 4) Investigation into superintendent attempting to negotiate with individuals outside of the proper channels 5) Investigation and interview of every member who signed the letter.

2. How and when will you be reaching out to the employees who filed complaints and sexual harassment claims directly to the Superintendent, which were then ignored, and the employees were retaliated against? Since the Superintendent is a mandatory reporter, who oversees her decisions about when to investigate and when not to investigate (school policy GBEA) after a claim of sexual harassment?

3. The Superintendent has made multiple claims against employees for hostile work environment over the last four years. Since the Superintendent has created a hostile and intolerable work environment and made unreasonable changes to the terms of employment that has effectively forced employees to quit, when will she be investigated for her actions?

It hurts deeply to see so many talented, experienced, and competent employees being forced out of this district with no closure email to staff and thecommunity. I'm referring to employees who have spent many years at the Bandon School District and care about the success and safety of the students and staff. Meanwhile, as those celebrated employees slip away and are forced to build a career elsewhere, the district office is posting celebratory bios about their replacements. I understand that it's important to introduce new employees. However, I also understand the importance of closure and transparency about the losses of previous staff members. Past employees are feeling as though they have been chewed up and spit out. This is difficult to stomach, and it makes it even harder to celebrate the posts on social media about the replacements. Retention is important, and when that doesn't work, in this case, please ask the district office staff to celebrate the talented people who worked for this district and have been systematically forced out.

I will submit more emails soon outlining two damaging and dishonest statements the Superintendent made to the public and the school board at the last school board meeting. Those statements were blatant attempts to improve her optics while also throwing the teachers under the bus for asking for fair wages and working conditions. Thank you for your time. 

Thank you,

Karina Taylor