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MIDDLETON, Idaho – The superintendent of the Middleton School District has said he will launch an internal investigation after teachers have posted what he calls "insensitive and inappropriate" Halloween images on the district's Facebook page.
"I am deeply disturbed by the decision of our staff to wear these costumes," said Superintendent Josh Middleton on Facebook Friday morning.
Later on Friday, an unexpected meeting of the Special School Board was scheduled for Saturday morning.
Halloween photos sparked strong criticism on social media, with some commentators calling the photos racist. They were uploaded to the district's Facebook page on October 31 at 8:30 pm
A photo, published Thursday by Beth Almanza, on Facebook, shows Middleton Heights Elementary School staff holding pieces of what appear to be brick-painted cardboard signs that collectively form a wall and carry the words "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN" – a political campaign slogan popularized by President Trump during his 2016 campaign. A poster holder is dressed as the Statue of Liberty. Another is hoisting an American flag.
A separate photo depicts seven other staff members dressed in Mexican – style colored clothes, sombreros and fake mustaches waving maracas.
Friday night, the district announced the holding of a special meeting on Saturday at 10 am at the district office. The agenda of the meeting indicates that the directors will meet in camera to consider "the assessment, dismissal, disciplinary action or hearing of complaints or charges against a public official, an employee, a staff member or an individual agent or a pupil of a public school. "
The executive sessions are closed to the public, but the agenda also states that steps can be taken after the executive session.
According to district policy, partisan or political activities are prohibited to school employees during normal school hours.
Almanza said that she had obtained the photos via a screenshot of the district's Facebook page, where they had been taken on Friday morning.
Almanza's message triggered a storm of condemnation by Facebook users.
"Disappointing and disgusting," wrote Evangelina Ozuna Ybarra.
"I'm horrified," wrote Lisa Souders.
Some defended the photos.
"I love the way everyone offends Halloween costumes," McAllister wrote.
Superintendent Middleton "has offered his sincerest and most sincere apologies to our families and clients."
"We are so much better than that," he said early Friday morning.
On Friday afternoon, the Idaho Education Association issued a statement condemning the costumes and offering to help provide diversity training.
"The events that took place at Heights Primary 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."
"The IEA and the Middleton Education Association are ready, willing and able to help the district provide diversity and cultural skills training to employees in the Middleton School District," the statement said. "As disturbing as the situation is, it offers us an opportunity for education and growth, so that people can be more aware of the seriousness of the damage caused by this type of insensitive behavior."
Middleton Heights has nearly 600 students and 27 staff members. About 13% of the student population is Hispanic. Click here for more details on the school.
Superintendent Middleton originally planned to go to Facebook Live on Friday to talk about next week's election, when his district will ask voters to support three bail measures. The district says it needs close to $ 29 million to build a new school and upgrade existing buildings, including Heights Elementary School.
Critics continued Friday to post their thoughts on Facebook, including comments from legislators in Idaho.
Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise representative, wrote, "This kind of hateful, racist and violent behavior must stop and must not be tolerated. I am so angry and discouraged by educators doing this. … deplorable! There should be concrete and serious consequences for those who have chosen to do so. "
"It's incredibly disappointing," said Rep John McCrostie, D-Garden City.
On Friday afternoon, a petition declaring "No Racism in the Middleton School District" was circulating on moveon.org. Shortly after 4 pm, he had collected more than 840 signatures from across the country.
Also on Friday, the Middleton School District withdrew a photo of Superintendent of Education Sherri Ybarra celebrating Halloween in Middleton Heights from the school's webpage.
The photo came out under a caption: "Superintendent Sherri Ybarra (Jack) visited Heights and enjoyed some of our Halloween parties!"
Asked about the photo Friday, Ybarra spokeswoman Allison Westfall said it was from last year when Ybarra had visited the school.
Westfall also provided a photo of an Idaho Press news article from November 5, 2017 referring to Ybarra's visit and including a photo of Ybarra wearing the Halloween costume.
"She did not visit Middleton Heights this year," wrote Westfall in an email to Idaho Education News.
Clark Corbin, a journalist with Idaho EdNews, contributed to this article.
This article was originally published on IdahoEdNews.org on November 2, 2018.
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