Spooner High School Students Stage Walkout To Protest Administrators

Around 70 high school students in Spooner walked out of school Tuesday morning to protest school administrators. The walkout comes after a Spooner High School teacher was put on administrative leave, a move he claims was a response to his public criticism of school officials.

High school sophomore Abby Melton said Spooner Area School District Superintendent Michelle Schwab is bullying teachers as the district addresses financial challenges.

“I understand budget cuts have to happen, but how you treat people matters,” Melton said.

Her father and high school physical education teacher Andrew Melton said he was put on leave after sending a district-wide email criticizing the administration’s treatment of employees.

“They’ve been very purposeful and excited about getting rid of people,” he said. “They just said that it’s a band-aid and they shouldn’t have to do this after next year.”

Spooner District spokeswoman Diana Maas said the administration can’t comment on personnel matters and said it’s unclear why students are protesting.

“They have signs that say, ‘We want a new administration,’ but beyond that I don’t know … There’s community frustration in what they perceive to be staff departures, and that’s related to retirements and resignations,” said Maas.

Maas said no one has been fired or laid off, but four staff contracts were not renewed earlier in the school year.

Superintendent Michelle Schwab was not immediately available for comment. Schwab told Wisconsin Public Radio in March that the district is taking steps to address a $900,000 annual deficit.