Whitefish, Columbia Falls schools announce opposite mask policies by LYNNETTE HINTZE and CHRIS PETERSON | August 17, 2021 7:00 AM The two biggest school districts in the North Valley will take opposite approaches to mask requirements when the school year starts in a couple weeks. She also has credentials in K-8 multiple subject teaching and K-12 administrative services. 311 California Ave. 2023 Flathead Beacon, All Rights Reserved. We Have Moved! 406-862-3505. I just got really mad at that meeting, and I spent three weeks writing and researching.. The Recycled Fiber Superintendent will focus on the areas of operational best practices, technology advancement, process improvement projects, cost improvement projects, capital justification, and planning activities. New Online Community Survey Open Through January 16. Phone: 208-664-8241 l Email: shon.hocker@cdaschools.org DR. MICHAEL NELSON Deputy Superintendent A graduate of Coeur d'Alene Public Schools, Dr. Mike Nelson works with district educators to administer current and relevant assessments and regularly reports progress toward district and state goals. In a unanimous vote, the board opted to require masks for students, staff, and visitors in K-6 and recommend face coverings for grades 7-12, according to the minutes. 727 East Idaho The County Superintendent of Schools is elected for a four-year term and must hold a current Montana Teaching Certificate with a minimum of three years teaching experience. Since the boards decision on Aug. 12, the Facebook group Take Back Whitefish has been promoting the recall, with Paatalo as one of the moderators, as has conservative news outlet theMontana Daily Gazette. Trustee Boksich WHS Principal Drown His responsibilities in that role included supervising the special education programs, overseeing section 504 plans for students with disabilities, supporting human resources, and working on homelessness and mental health services. Previously, they were mandatory for students and staff to curb the spread of the coronavirus. A mom is accusing the Whitefish Bay School District of discriminating against racial minorities because it has denied her daughter special education services. Dr. Hocker has been Superintendent of Dickinson Public Schools since 2018. We want the Whitefish community to be well-informed about expansion information and have an opportunity to provide more feedback regarding our next steps, said Dave Means, superintendent of Whitefish School District. Kalispell, MT 59901 The far-right anti-government group has grown by 53 percent to more than 33,000 members, according to a new report from the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights. The two employee unions in the district, the Whitefish Classified Employees Association and the Whitefish Education Association were also surveyed. Like the other candidates, her career began in the classroom where she served as an intervention teacher, literacy facilitator and district teacher on special assignment in Gilroy Unified School District in Gilroy, California. In that same month the COVID-19 pandemic made its way into Montana, forcing schools to close and transition into virtual learning, and Means new role became a lot more complicated. Privacy Policy Superintendent Fisher suggested to the Board that the Weed District follow the Commissioner's lead and suspend any activity planned for management of aquatic weeds. The Columbia Falls School Board voted to make masks optional in June. Mack started his career in education as a teacher with experience teaching second through eighth grade on San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation in San Carlos, Arizona, and in the North Dakota towns of Stanley and Jamestown. Department: Technical Services. Privacy Policy McAdam is the director of combating white nationalism and defending Democracy at the Montana Human Rights Network and has been with the group for 20 years. "In Phase III, there are several elements that continue as precautions for the spread of disease, including extra sanitation, social distancing, frequent hand washing, and students and staff staying home when sick and symptomatic. Chairwoman Jen Brumley said the board feels very fortunate to have two excellent candidates. Manage and continually develop all safety and housekeeping efforts in the Recycled Fiber Plant and Bale Receiving Warehouse. Nasello is currently principal of Hirsch Elementary in Tracy, California, a position shes held since 2019. Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814 Paatalo said she was not at the Moms for America meeting on Sept. 1 and said she has never heard of the group but she supports parental rights. Our students will one day be, charged with tackling local and global challenges. The Trustees of Whitefish School District No. At the September 1 Moms for America meeting in Whitefish, speakers including Kimberly Fletcher, president of the group, reinforced the idea that anti-mask parents have the right to refuse to abide by mask mandates in schools. Parental rights have become another tool to recruit community members to show up and protest mask mandates and other things, McAdam said. Vice-Chair Schellinger Curriculum Director Bloom . ", copyright 2023 "While opinions certainly vary on mitigation strategies, we are all ultimately after the same goal keep our kids healthy and learning together in our schools. Under the rules, Paatalo said her sixth-grade child is required to wear a mask, but her eighth-grade child is not in the same building. The Coeur dAlene district has 10,000 students and 1,350 staff. I work for every single child, Arntzen, a Republican, told parents in Missoula. Dave Means by WHITNEY ENGLAND Whitefish Pilot | January 23, 2021 12:00 AM With overwhelming support from the Whitefish School Board, administrators, staff and community members, Whitefish. See the estimate, review home details, and search for homes nearby. copyright 2023 Of the 24 respondents in the WCEA survey, 59 percent voted for an optional or recommended policy, while 41 percent voted for some requirement level. The other 22(d)2 schools are Whitefish in Paradise, Mackinac Island, DeTour, and Beaver Island. Whitefish High School recently earned another high achievement by ranking 3rd in the state of Montana by U.S. high schools in 2022 Best High Schools, published by U.S. News. The district will not screen students coming into schools. Both candidates are experienced and have students at the forefront of everything they do," Brumley said. Orozco has been director of elementary education, then assistant superintendent of elementary education and instruction, since 2015. Before becoming an administrator, Webster taught for nine years. I abhor personal attacks, whether verbal or otherwise, against my fellow trustees.. Terms of Use | Dr. Heather Davis Schmidt has been the Superintendent of the Whitefish School District in Whitefish, Montana, since 2015. The 2021 Whitefish School Board Trustee Candidates are Quincy Bennetts, David Diehl, Leanette Kearns, Todd Lengacher and Emily Morrow. Job specializations: Education. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. All critical information should be independently verified. Terms of Use | COEUR dALENE The search for a new Coeur d'Alene School District superintendent has been narrowed to two. Six candidates were interviewed April 1 and 2, including Drea Beale, Lisa Bloom, John Coyne, Henry Mack, Catey Nasello and Sharon Webster. I think its almost just people asserting their natural positions in nature, she said. Terms of Use | Use of this site is subject to the Flathead Beacon's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Myrah has spoken on educational initiatives and has written professional journal articles and monthly columns, as well as a book, The Brain Compatible Classroom Using What We Know About Learning to Improve Teaching (ASCD 2003). The movement has resurfaced recently as frustrations mount over the pandemic and its restrictions. The Coeur d'Alene district has 10,000 students and 1,350. A new Muldown Elementary principal is anticipated to be announced in the coming week, according to an email sent to families from Whitefish School District Superintendent Dave Means. Mission - The Whitefish School District cultivates and supports a community that engages each student to succeed in continuous learning, career, and Nonetheless, across the country, similar efforts have been growing. Hocker received his doctorate in educational leadership from Idaho State University in 2016 and his masters degree from ISU in 1999. Whitefish Bay School District | Whitefish Bay WI She holds a bachelors degree from California State University, in Fresno, California and a master's degree from Concordia University in Irvine, California. But the school district says. There is also a Bulldog tip line available on each school website. Travis McAdam, with the Montana Human Rights Network, said the parental rights movement isnt new and has percolated amongst anti-government groups for years. Additionally, he obtained a Master of Arts in educational leadership with an endorsement in administration before moving back to Montana. The board of trustees has established a search committee to plan and organize the process of hiring her replacement. School Board Chair Katie Clarke said the school district considered holding another national search for a superintendent like it did last spring before Means agreed to serve in the interim role, but decided the move wasnt necessary. The County Superintendent has general supervision of the public schools of the county. Some parents have reported their children are long haulers, experiencing serious symptoms, such as heart problems and the inability to read due to vertigo, for weeks. Our Superintendent Superintendent Dan Zorn, October 2021 "Literacy is the most important thing we do!" Contact Us Dr. Dan Zorn - Superintendent Holly Pfenniger - Executive Assistant Office Hours 7:30am-4:30pm Summer Hours 8:00am-4:00pm Address: 2715 Lilac St Longview, WA 98632 Office: 360.575.7016 Fax: 360.575.7022 Whitefish School District seeks a Principal to join one of the leading school districts in the state of Montana. He also said he understood what he was signing up for: Part of our job is to make difficult decisions, and those decisions will be met with disconnect and disagreement, and that is part of the work.. His approach was focused, calm, collaborative, and reassuring to all those around him, a letter of support written by a handful of district employees notes. I will help make the transition to the next Superintendent a smooth and positive process for all.. We are also looking forward to our staff and community getting a chance to meet them and share their thoughts.". I embrace the opportunity to be in a learning environment where everyone pursues knowledge and has the opportunity to learn from diverse and enriching relationships," he said. In a survey of Whitefish families, more than half of the 832 responses favored a mask-optional policy. Meeting participants discussed the current need for exploring expansion options, reviewed initial design concepts, cost estimates, and taxpayer impact, and were offered opportunities to give additional feedback. Beacon file photo Heather Davis Schmidt, the superintendent of Whitefish School District, has. The district still will offer remote learning for students who choose not to go to school in person. These changes are encouraging and wonderful, but create the necessity for this announcement, which I approach in a positive light., Davis Schmidt took over as superintendent in the 2015-2016 school year, replacing Kate Orozco, who had been at the helm of the district for four years. Davis Schmidt announced last November that she was entering her final contract with the district due to family reasons, namely that her husbands company had merged with a larger out-of-state firm. It is a full-time position due to the large number of independent school districts in Flathead County (23). Gifted and Talented. The person selected will replace outgoing Principal Linda Whitright, who is retiring at the end of the school year, capping 28 years at Whitefish School District. Whitefish Bay chooses John Thomsen as new superintendent of schools By Jeff Rumage June 15, 2015 e-mail print Whitefish Bay The Whitefish Bay School Board has hired St. Francis School District Superintendent John Thomsen to serve as superintendent of the Whitefish Bay School District. Whitefish, MT 59937 In fact, members of the public did comment at the meeting, even though they didnt have the chance to do so after the motion to require masks was under consideration. The goal is control, and when it comes to schools, it is about deconstructing an institution that they have not liked for a long time, he said. I did this early because it is critical to the success of Whitefish Schools and our students that we ensure a smooth transition, including the time and opportunity for the Trustees to hire the next Superintendent of Whitefish Schools, Davis Schmidt said in an Oct. 23 statement. Extremist anti-government folks like Ammon Bundy have seized upon the pandemic as a divisive issue to come into communities and further the division and recruit new members.. AIR QUALITY AND VENTILATION About the Program: Operation of the outdoor air quality program includes collecting data from monitoring sites in Kalispell, Whitefish and Columbia Falls and administering the Flathead County Air Pollution Control Program. Privacy Policy 406-293-4124. copyright 2023 Kalispell, MT 59901 Mack is principal of Roosevelt Elementary in Dickinson, North Dakota, a position hes held for 16 years. The Coeur d'Alene School Board will interview the candidates next Thursday and Friday. The union surveys were the only two to feature a strongly recommended policy, while the family and non-union employee surveys only listed a recommended option. Of the 84, only eight have made it to ballots. Superintendent's Message Staff . In 2018 he received the CSPD Leadership Award for Region V in Montana, which is an award recognizing leaders who have positively impacted the lives of paraeducators and students. Arntzen told the crowd of nearly 100 that she was drafting an administrative rule with Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen that would allow parents to opt out of school board rules. If my employer said to me, I recommend that you go and do such and so to me, that is not like its your option, so I think its kind of in-between, it could go with one side, or it could go with the other, Boksich said in the recording. Beale holds two masters degrees in teaching and learning and school leadership. And when the government moves against it, I would say the government is the one with the movement, not us. She called the efforts a very strategic way to justify attacks on elected officials and muddle the issue.. Bundy capitalized on the pandemic when he started the Peoples Rights Network to fight back against public health measures being implemented by local health boards. The County Superintendent also fulfills state responsibilities for the home school population. Fulfills other responsibilities as assigned by the Superintendent. In his comments about the masking policy, Matt Niel called the school board trustees bullies and narcissists, and he said that hed decide on masks for his kids himself, according tomeeting minutes. Both Bloom and Coyne are current Whitefish School District employees. Congratulations to all the contestants and good luck to the three heading to the state competition! Published on www.firebrickgroup.com 26 Feb 2023. The post called the mask mandate policy a power grab, by an overbearing school board. McAdam said posting home addresses of public officials is a move used by anti-government groups to intimidate public officials. Elsie Arntzen, Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction, walks into Parental Rights Education Action meeting at . Short biographies of each candidate were included in Means email, which was sent out prior to the interviews. Matt Jensen, Assistant Superintendent Peter Fusaro, Assistant Superintendent 233 1st Ave East Kalispell, MT 59901 751-3434 Fax: 751-3425 Kila School District #20 Elizabeth English, Principal PO Box 40 Kila, MT 59920 257-2428 Fax: 755-6663 Marion School District #54 Julia Maxwell, Principal 205 Gopher Lane Bloom holds a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education from the University of Montana and a master of education degree from the University of Portland with an emphasis in supervision and leadership. Listed on 2023-02-28. Community members may view the recording of the December 14 meeting, including the PowerPoint that was presented, as well as provide more feedback by completing an online survey that will be open until January 16. DISCLAIMER: No endorsement is intended or made of any hypertext link, product, service, or information either by its inclusion or exclusion from this page or site. (Dec. 20, 2022) Coming off of its second community engagement meeting on December 14, Whitefish School District is seeking additional community feedback about the need for expansion at Whitefish High School and the activities complex. Coeur d'Alene's own assistant superintendent of elementary education and instruction, Kate Orozco, and Shon Hocker, superintendent of Dickinson Public Schools in Dickinson, N.D., were announced Thursday as the two finalists. Whitefish School District Other jobs like this full time Published on www.jobposting.com 27 Feb 2023 Position Vacancy Muldown Elementary Principal beginning 23/24 school year. packet at the District Office at 600 2nd St E in Whitefish, Monday - Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm. How much do Whitefish Bay School District employees make? Means is originally from Missoula and also spent time working in Bozeman and Kodiak, Alaska, in his earlier years beginning his career in education. Center for Sustainability and Entrepreneurship. Shon is from Idaho and wants to return. That, however, represents a big drop of 44% in the annual net loss of students to MPS. As in many communities struggling with the COVID pandemic, the situation in Whitefish has turned neighbor against neighbor, exacerbating political differences. His district has 4,500 students and 650 staff members. Two community members and a student will ask the same set of questions selected from public suggestions. Job specializations: Management. While all attempts are made to insure the correctness and suitability of information under our control and to correct any errors brought to our attention, no representation or guarantee can be made as to the correctness or suitability of that information or any linked information presented, referenced, or implied. 1st Place- Teagan Chisholm, 8th grade Whitefish MS, 2nd Place-Clara Patton, 6th Grade Columbia Falls MS, 3rd Place- Lennan O'Connpr, 5th Grade Hedges Elem KSD. Sign up for our newsletter and get the best of the Beacon delivered every day to your inbox. Privacy Policy But no one piece of evidence swayed us one way or another., Lengacher said he also disagrees with the allegations that there was not a reasonable opportunity for citizen participation: The challenge here is that so few people engage with school boards, so there is a lack of understanding of how school boards work and how to engage with them.. Mr. Fisher further indicated that the Weed District would continue to provide weed education and perform survey work if grant funds are received. Beale is currently the principal and superintendent of Fair-Mont-Egan School and has 23 years of experience in education that began with teaching in Maine. Even outside the scope of the recall, parents in Whitefish and the Flathead have been agitating against school boards and mask mandates. After the Montana Legislature took action to limit the power of local health boards, he said the fight to rally conservatives shifted to school boards. Muldown Elementary Principal-Whitefish School District Position Vacancy Muldown Elementary Principal beginning 23/24 school year. For me, the important thing out of that survey is that it was a clear indication that there was a wide set of opinions in our community, Lengacher said. copyright 2023 Paatalo said interest on Facebook is high, but gathering the 2,391 required signatures for each petition in person has been difficult. Our school district is truly an exceptional place to learn." The letter also noted that the situation did not rise to a level of needing to report it to local law enforcement, but the district administration and the school board of trustees followed legal guidance and protocols by informing the appropriate state education entities. While our success remains high, as I reflect on the past few years, I remain particularly proud of, how nimble and flexible we all have been. Glassdoor has salaries, wages, tips, bonuses, and hourly pay based upon employee reports and estimates. In my role as superintendent of Whitefish Schools, I continue to come to work every day excited about the opportunity to serve our students, families, and staff. 312 E. Second Street Last spring after an unsuccessful superintendent search to replace former Superintendent Heather Davis Schmidt, the district offered the position on an interim basis to Means. "We recognize how challenging the last 17 months have been during this global pandemic," Means said. The Whitefish School District on Friday sent out a letter to families in the district informing them of a recent investigation regarding communications between a staff member and students. Hill transitioned from principal of Glacier High School in Kalispell to . Staff Directory Photo Album Contact Us Bulldog Tip Line (406) 730-3080 | speakup@whitefishschools.org News & Announcements Whitefish High School Expansion Information Poster Save Money on your 2023 Tax Bill MAKE A DONATION EARLY Superintendent's Message . Prior to that he was Superintendent of the Big Horn School District in Cowley, Wyoming, from 2007 to 2018. For a board to conduct itself in this manner lacks the basic integrity required of a politician.. Libby, MT 59923 All materials can be accessed at www.whitefishschools.org on the WHS Expansion Needs link. Superintendent of Schools The County Superintendent of Schools is elected for a four-year term and must hold a current Montana Teaching Certificate with a minimum of three years teaching experience. The two biggest school districts in the North Valley will take opposite approaches to mask requirements when the school year starts in a couple weeks. Laura Myrah, the director of curriculum and instruction for the Whitefish Bay School District, has been appointed to serve as the interim superintendent of the school district. Join or sign in to find your next job. Back in 1994 when the state decided to do away with funding schools based on local property taxes and move to funding schools based on a per pupil allowance (Proposal A), small schools like ours suffered greatly . But then that person said, you know he just seems like that this is it, this is his place.. A first-term board member, Lengacher has spent 20 years as an educator and served on multiple other boards throughout his career but has not seen so much contention around a single topic as he has with masks. In 2021, there were 84 efforts to recall school boards, according toBallotpedia. Minutes from the August meeting also do not show any violent threats lobbed at the board. Job in Whitefish - Flathead County - MT Montana - USA , 59937. My husband now spends significant time traveling, making it much more difficult for our children and us, she said. energy as they continue to grow on this journey. The board last week voted to offer Means a three-year contract for the position, and is expected to vote on the final contract next month. DeVries is the director of Love Lives Here, an anti-discrimination group in the Flathead and part of the Montana Human Rights Network. It really is something that Im excited about. In the event that active COVID-19 cases increase to the point of threatening school closures, Kalispell's policy gives Superintendent Micah Hill the authority to implement mandatory face. Superintendent As the superintendent of the Whiteford Agricultural School District, it is my sincere pleasure and honor to serve this amazing learning community and school family. Whitefish School District Back to top Whitefish independent High School Education Foundation About Whitefish Superintendent's Corner Bulldog Tip Line (406) 730-3080 | speakup@whitefishschools.org News & Announcements WHS Expansion Update Whitefish High School Expansion Information Poster EMERGENCY School Closure Information Orozco has been director of elementary education, then assistant superintendent of elementary education and instruction, since 2015. When you have the State Superintendent of Public Schools encouraging parents to organize against school board decisions, its alarming. But the previous high during the last 13 years was 38 recall attempts in 2010. We have many resources to help our community learn more and continue our conversation about the future growth of Whitefish High School.. . Superintendent Means presented for the Board's review, discussion and possible action the 12/13/22 draft Safe Return to In -Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan and the 7/19/22 Whitefish School District COVID -19 Guidelines and Procedures, which includes the latest draft of the Whitefish The teacher, who the district did not identify, chose to resign from his position during the course of the investigation, according to the district. (Courtesy photos) by WHITNEY ENGLAND Whitefish Pilot | April 22, 2021 1:45 PM Editor's note: This story originally ran in the April 14, 2021 edition of the Whitefish Pilot. Supervisory responsibilities include areas of administration, legal issues, financial oversight, transportation, tuition, school district organization, classification, boundary adjustments, and centralized clerical and record keeping. Members Present: Chairperson Pat Jarvi, Dave Fern, Brian McDowell, Eric Hosek, and Ruth Harrison. 727 East Idaho The statement added that it was important to inform families within the district of the situation and that the district took the appropriate action. P: 406.862.8640 F: 406.862.1507. He is an award-winning educator recognized across the state and in other various areas for his work in the field, according to the school board. Our new building opened in the 2020-2021 school year just up the street from the old Muldown site which is now the district annex building. On behalf of the Whitefish School District's Board of Directors, we do thank all citizens for attending our scheduled Board meetings. "We want the Whitefish community to be well-informed about expansion information and have an opportunity to provide more feedback regarding our next steps," said Dave Means, superintendent of Whitefish School District. Trustee Shannon Hanson also said that being under the watchful eye of citizens is part of the job, and he welcomes efforts to hold school boards accountable to the law. The Missoula County Public Schools board will interview one person in its second attempt at a superintendent search this school year. Website Disclaimer. Whitefish School District seeks a Principal to join one of the leading school districts in the state of Montana. Join to apply for the Principal (Beginning 23/24) role at WHITEFISH SCHOOL DISTRICT #44Principal (Beginning 23/24) role at WHITEFISH SCHOOL DISTRICT #44 This honor continues to speak to our staff, administration, and the students of Whitefish High School and our entire district. Myrah said she looks forward to the new responsibilities of the position. Its an honor to work in an effort to build upon the excellence of education we have in Whitefish. Back in 2013-14 the system lost 6,891 students through open enrollment and gained just 731 students . Contact Us Bulldog Tip Line (406) 730-3080 | speakup@whitefishschools.org News & Announcements 2023-2024 Incoming Freshmen Q & A The WHS Counselors will be available at the Junior High Parent Teacher Conferences on 3/2/3023, to answer any questions you may have regarding your student's high school registration. But he said he does not believe the board did anything to warrant a recall. But according to several letters and statements of support from community members, school staff and board members, Means stepped into the role and confidently led the district through a vast amount of unprecedented obstacles. We have achieved this by all working together. I did it all by myself, she said. So far, Paatalo said she has collected at least around 250 signatures, and its an uphill battle to gather them in person despite the enthusiasm she has sensed on social media. Step One: If the Teachers' Rights Committee determines that the grievance is meritorious, it shall provide written notice to the Superintendent of its intent to submit the grievance to arbitration within twenty days after receipt of the Board's decision. 2 Vehicles Crushed In Bayshore Mall Parking Garage Collapse, Spring North Shore School for Seniors classes begin March 6. We have a new location in the Flathead County North Complex. powered by Educational Networks . But the previous high during the last 13 years was 38 recall attempts in 2010.