Summary of 11.17.25 School Board Meeting
A Meeting Where Image Management Overshadowed Accountability
The November school board meeting was revealing, not only because of what was said, but because of how the evening was structured. The meeting opened with an extended presentation about math pathways, student activities, sports, and school events. Under most circumstances, these segments might feel like legitimate celebrations of student success. But for families and staff who have been following recent events, it was difficult not to notice how prominently they were positioned, and how heavily they leaned on feel-good talking points.
This was especially striking given that the math pathways presentation itself is tied to major programming changes that many families have expressed concern about. The district has accelerated math placement decisions in ways that have raised questions about readiness, equity, and the lack of transparent communication with parents. Yet rather than addressing any of the substantive concerns or acknowledging the confusion that these changes have created, the board leaned on enthusiastic student quotes and upbeat framing.
But even a polished introduction couldn’t soften what came next.
The Video Retention Issue: A Clear Breach of Transparency
When the board reached the agenda item on meeting video retention, the atmosphere shifted. What emerged was a concerning admission: nearly all district meeting videos, spanning years, had recently been taken out of public view.
The district insisted they were merely “archived,” not deleted, and blamed technical issues. Not only does this appear intentionally misleading as videos were clearly marked to restrict public access. But what mattered most was this: the videos were hidden from the public without any board vote, any board discussion, or any policy.
A board member shared that after consulting the Public Records Advocate, the state archivist, and OSBA, the general expectation in Oregon is that meeting videos remain publicly available for at least a year. Some districts never take them down at all. In Bandon, however, the public lost access to most recordings precisely when concerns about district leadership, workplace culture, and retaliation were escalating.
Parents and community members pointed out that the district’s written minutes are not thorough, often omitting key discussions or summarizing serious concerns into vague, non-representative language. Without the videos, the public had no accurate record of how the board was responding, or failing to respond, to mounting complaints.
This wasn’t a technical glitch. It was a transparency failure, and it reinforced the community’s growing suspicion that information is being controlled rather than shared.
The Executive Session: A Door Closed, Then Nothing
The board then went into an executive session on “work culture,” an agenda item the community had waited months to see addressed. Many hoped this would finally lead to real steps, perhaps an independent investigation, or at least a public acknowledgment of the seriousness of the concerns.
But when the board returned, the only “resolution” announced was that if community members send complaints without the formal complaint form, the board will include the correct form in their reply.
There was no mention of:
evaluating the superintendent’s conduct
reviewing allegations of retaliation or bullying
acknowledging the union’s vote of no confidence
examining patterns in staff departures
taking action on public complaints
planning an independent review
The community brought months of concerns and documentation.
The board brought I-9 style paperwork process notes.
It was a profound mismatch, one that left many parents and teachers with the unmistakable impression that the board is unwilling to address the substance of what the community has been raising.
The Workplace Survey Scandal: Branded as “From the Board,” But Not Board-Approved
Another troubling development was the workplace culture survey sent to all district staff earlier in the week. It arrived branded explicitly as a message from the school board.
But during the meeting, the board chair admitted:
the board never discussed the survey
the board never voted to authorize it
the board never reviewed the questions
the survey was created and distributed unilaterally
This is a serious governance breach. Individual board members do not get to act on behalf of the board without collective authorization, not even the chair.
Staff immediately recognized that the survey was unsafe:
It asked highly identifying questions in a very small district.
It referenced harassment, retaliation, bullying, and misconduct with no protections.
Many teachers believed it was designed to identify who was speaking out.
Several refused to answer out of fear.
Union leaders publicly questioned the ethics and safety of the survey.
The survey incident exemplified the larger problem: critical decisions affecting staff safety and workplace trust are being made without transparency, oversight, or lawful board process.
Public Comment: Dozens of Red Flags, Same Underlying Pattern
The public comment section laid bare what the district has been trying to contain.
A Joint Formal Complaint
Four former district employees submitted a joint written complaint detailing:
hostile and abusive treatment
retaliation
dishonesty
ethics violations
waste of public funds
intimidation
misuse of authority
They described a superintendent who had harmed their careers, reputations, and health, and whose actions had tangible consequences for students, finances, and district operations.
They asked the board to take action up to and including termination.
A Family Forced Out of the District
A parent called in to describe how their special-needs child faced discrimination and retaliation. Their attempts to advocate were met with punitive communication restrictions. The family ultimately sold their home and left the district entirely, and their case is now part of a federal Office for Civil Rights investigation.
Staff and Union Testimony
Teachers and union leaders spoke openly about:
fear of retaliation
toxic work culture
intimidation
deeply broken trust
concerns about the survey
concerns about leadership
One union representative described Bandon as “one of the most untrusting, toxic work environments” he had ever seen.
Public Records Failures
A community member described multiple ignored public records requests, legal deadlines not met, and a pattern of minutes failing to reflect actual public comments.
The Bigger Picture: A District in Crisis, Not a District in Celebration
Despite the long list of student activities presented at the start of the meeting, the main story of the night wasn’t student field trips or sports.
It was this:
Transparency is being selectively applied and sometimes withheld.
Major district actions are being taken without board approval.
Staff are afraid to speak truthfully, even anonymously.
Parents and employees are bringing forward serious, credible complaints.
Leadership continues to minimize, deflect, or bury concerns.
Public trust is deteriorating, and fast.
The meeting made one thing clear:
The district can no longer gloss over systemic issues with curated positivity.
The problems are too significant, too documented, and too public to ignore.
Bandon Schools Deserve Better