The construction work took place during the modernization of a section of the US-Mexico border wall that took place on April 18, 2018 in Calexico, California. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Kirstjen M. Nielsen, went to the site.(Photo: David McNew, Getty Images)

MIDDLETON, Idaho – Idaho School District Superintendent Apologizes Friday for Reacting Hostile photos of teachers and school members disguised as wall border pieces and Mexican stereotypes on Halloween.

Middleton Heights Elementary School teachers disguised as "wall" posed behind large pieces of painted brick board, with "Make America Great Again" spelled in red, white and blue letters. Others donned ponchos and sombreros of bright colors, or mariachi clothes. A woman posing in the photo seems to have written MEXICAN in capital letters on the edge of her sombrero.

The photos were posted on the Middleton School District Facebook page. They were later removed, but screenshots of the costumes began circulating online, attracting the condemnation of the residents of the district and surrounding areas.

The Idaho Education Association has asked Facebook to comment on inappropriate costumes.

"The events that took place at Heights Elementary School in Middleton on Halloween are disturbing and inappropriate," reads the statement. "The teachers involved, as well as the school administrative staff and the Middleton School District have shown an extremely poor judgment."

Dr. Josh Middleton, District Director, said Friday morning in a video posted on the same Facebook page that he wanted to "express my deepest and sincerest apologies" for the costumes.

"I was shown these pictures and [was] deeply concerned by the decision of our staff to wear clearly insensitive and inappropriate costumes, "he said.

The superintendent said he learned about the existence of the photos after an upset parent joined him on Thursday night. The district immediately launched an investigation into the situation, he added.

"We're better than that, we welcome all students," Middleton said. "We have the responsibility to teach and touch all students, one point is everything."

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Middleton police said Friday that she was aware of the controversy over the costumes and had stepped up patrols around the school to ensure safety, security and hope. a peaceful resolution ".

The teachers who wore the costumes have not been publicly identified, and it is unclear whether they will face a dismissal or other discipline.

Middleton said that he did not believe that teachers had the intention of hurting students with the choice of their costumes. According to the 2017 Census data, approximately 9.5% of Middleton's population of approximately 7,400 residents are Hispanic or Latin American.

The costumes were made during a team building activity for teachers and staff.

"Do I think there was a malicious intent in this bad decision? No, I do not," he said. "Was there bad judgment involved? Absolutely."

The turmoil comes at a critical time for the district, which asks voters to approve three bonds totaling $ 28.8 million to finance modernization work and a new elementary school on poll Tuesday.

The Middleton School Board will hold a special meeting on Saturday morning at 10:00 am to review complaints against a district related person. The notice does not specify what the complaints consist of, but the meeting was convened after concerns were voiced about the offending Halloween costumes.

Middleton promised that the district would learn from the costume scandal and try to improve.

"Now our work begins by examining this issue and learning from it and changing it, and again, being the school we can be, the school district that we know we can be, rather than what has been presented on Thursday, "he said.

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