Bayfield residents are questioning the firing of former Superintendent Kevin Aten, who had two years remaining on his $145,000 annual contract. The school district will continue paying him for 18 months, for a total of $217,500.
“I think it was unfortunate in the middle of the year,” said Carol Blatnick, who was on the board when Aten was hired in 2018.
The board voted unanimously Feb. 8 to terminate his contract, which had been renewed in 2021 for three years.
In a brief statement Friday, board President Mike Foutz said Aten’s contract needed to be renewed or nonrenewed in February. Board members “felt it would be best for the district to make the leadership change effective immediately,” despite the cost, he said.
Aten declined to elaborate about why his contract was not renewed.
“The board and I have core philosophical differences and values for the education of students,” he said.
However, the board’s employee review from Feb. 23, 2021, might provide some insight.
Board members cited the following:
- Lack of transparency in seeking other positions. Aten was a finalist for the superintendent’s job in Helena, Montana.
- “Does not readily accept views/opinions discordant to his own.”
The board gave Aten high marks for budgeting and leadership skills. The review, which was requested by The Durango Herald, was heavily redacted.
The review concludes, “administrative collaboration with the Board of Directors and communication regarding executive decisions made by the Superintendent to the Board of Directors must improve moving forward.”
On Friday, Aten pointed out that during his tenure, teachers received seven raises in five years. Classified staff members received a 7% to 10% raise in January, along with $1,000 in COVID-19 hazard pay.
The board approved dipping into budget reserves in 2020 to avoid staff layoffs, he said, but that couldn’t continue in 2021, when the district laid off about 10 staff members, citing a loss of state funding.
Blatnick noted Aten accomplishments, including a new mission strategy and providing community agencies with the use of the old Bayfield school building downtown, including Pine River Shares, Pueblo Community College and other educational entities.
“It has been a really tough year and last year was, too,” Blatnick said. “I was really sad to see this happen to him.”
While Bayfield and other school districts in Colorado have faced challenges since the pandemic, Bayfield’s teacher turnover in 2021 was 10.7%, compared with 20.8% for Durango and 20.6% in Ignacio, according to the Colorado Department of Education.
With the school district facing continued tight budgets and staff shortages, one former staff member asked why Aten wasn’t kept on as a long-term substitute or a bus driver.
Superintendent contracts cover leading the district, not any other duties, Blatnick said.
Aten was hired in 2018 for $135,000 annually. In 2019, his salary was increased to $140,000, and in 2020, his salary was increased to $145,000, according to copies of his contracts the district provided to the Herald.
Aten’s interim replacement is Assistant Superintendent Leon Hanhardt.
In addition to finding a permanent superintendent, the board must also decide whether Bayfield schools will switch to a four-day week. The idea has been supported by teachers, but has received pushback from parents.
The next board meeting is 6 p.m. Feb. 22.
