Privacy Policy copyright 2023 For a board to conduct itself in this manner lacks the basic integrity required of a politician.. According to the letter, the investigation was conducted by an outside agency and evidence from the investigation indicated that a Whitefish Middle School teacher failed to maintain appropriate, professional correspondence with several students. Privacy Policy "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. We Have Moved! But then that person said, you know he just seems like that this is it, this is his place.. 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. Her resignation press release noted that she continues to be humbled by the support of the Whitefish community, the quality of educators and the opportunity shes been given to serve.. She received her doctorate in leadership studies from Gonzaga University in 2005 and her masters degree from Gonzaga in 1994. Assistant to the Superintendent Katie McKay Accounts Payable Specialist Carly Watkins Payroll Specialist Ms. Brianne Fuzesy Technology Integration Specialist . 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. 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. 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. Superintendent of Schools School Closures School Closures SCHOOL CLOSURE INFORMATION FOR 2023 Flathead County school districts collaborated on the following procedures: All school districts may independently make the final decision about school closures due to inclement weather. WHITEFISH, MONT. She called the efforts a very strategic way to justify attacks on elected officials and muddle the issue.. 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. Whitefish, MT 59937 P: 406.862.8640 F: 406.862.1507 Website Disclaimer Mission- The Whitefish School District cultivates and supports a community that engages each student to succeed in continuous learning, career, and citizenship. During the meeting, trustees heard input from 41 members of the public. 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. 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. energy as they continue to grow on this journey. Our developmental music program provides a solid foundation for Whitefish students as they prepare for Middle and High school music programs. Superintendent's Message . 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. Before becoming an administrator, Webster taught for nine years. WHITEFISH SCHOOL DISTRICT #44 Whitefish, MT. We will continue to strive to make decisions that are in the best interest of the health and safety of our district.". DeVries is the director of Love Lives Here, an anti-discrimination group in the Flathead and part of the Montana Human Rights Network. The office is a liaison between the state and local government units and the taxpayers. Deadline: March 20, 2023 Complete job description & application are available at SUMMARY OF ASSIGNMENT: Mission - The Whitefish School District cultivates . Whitefish School District No. 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 With overwhelming support from the Whitefish School Board, administrators, staff and community members, Whitefish School District Interim Superintendent Dave Means is expected to take over in the role permanently. Any questions should be directed to the administrators of this or any other specific sites. 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. I work for every single child, Arntzen, a Republican, told parents in Missoula. 56 were here. But he said he does not believe the board did anything to warrant a recall. There is also a Bulldog tip line available on each school website. Terms of Use | With 10 years of experience as an administrator, Webster is currently the principal of Madison Elementary School in Mesa, Arizona. County health will be verifying vaccine status for those who are seeking to avoid quarantine. Whitefish School District seeks a Principal to join one of the leading school districts in the state of Montana. Prior to that he was Superintendent of the Big Horn School District in Cowley, Wyoming, from 2007 to 2018. Website Disclaimer. Superintendent - Mobile Maintenance. Salary Class: Full Time, Exempt. After the vote in Whitefish, a profile with an apparent stock photo for a profile picture that does not appear to exist anymore posted the addresses of all the school board members to the Whitefish United Facebook page. I think its almost just people asserting their natural positions in nature, she said. 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 Public Schools mission focuses on. The district will not screen students coming into schools. Prior to that, he was principal of an elementary school on Minot Air Force Base and was principal of Central Elementary in Tioga, North Dakota. Whitefish School District [[upButtonMessage]] full time. The office includes the superintendent, Cal Ketchum, a finance technician, Cheryl Morgan, and an administrative assistant. 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 Bennetts Director of Business Shea . "Please know that the district takes communication among and between students, staff and families very seriously and we are here to help respond to concerns you may have," Whitefish superintendent Dave Means wrote in the letter. The Columbia Falls School District, meanwhile, will make masks optional for students as the new school year begins, Superintendent Dave Wick said in a recent letter to parents. And in a survey of 106 staff who are not part of the two unions, there were 64 votes for an optional policy. Bloom has taught second and third grades at Muldown Elementary for the past 27 years. She said she was upset the board did not allow for public comment during deliberation among trustees about the mask policy. The Whitefish School District Board of Trustees is comprised of seven citizens elected to represent the community in setting District policies, adopting the budget, placing tax levies and bond issues on the ballot, hiring personnel including the Superintendent, and for providing the necessary facilities for the education of our community's youth. The district has 4,500 students and 650 staff. Please know that the district takes communication among and between students, staff and families very seriously and we are here to help respond to concerns you may have, Whitefish superintendent Dave Means wrote in the letter. It is a full-time position due to the large number of independent school districts in Flathead County (23). Paatalo said interest on Facebook is high, but gathering the 2,391 required signatures for each petition in person has been difficult. The public forum for both candidates will be next Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. Each candidate will have one hour. Many have been more than pleased with how Means filled his superintendent roles throughout the pandemic, and that was proven through several letters written to the school board. Under Montana law, a separate recall petition is required for each trustee. "I carry the belief and conviction that if our students are to develop the Portrait of a Graduate characteristics that adequately prepare them for their future, then we must continue to improve and work together to create the learning conditions that develop these skills and dispositions in our students, Orozco said. Superintendent Heather Davis Schmidt, right, at a Whitefish School Board meeting. The 2021 Whitefish School Board Trustee Candidates are Quincy Bennetts, David Diehl, Leanette Kearns, Todd Lengacher and Emily Morrow. Mack is principal of Roosevelt Elementary in Dickinson, North Dakota, a position hes held for 16 years. District 203 superintendent honored by state association. New Online Community Survey Open Through January 16. The two employee unions in the district, the Whitefish Classified Employees Association and the Whitefish Education Association were also surveyed. Shepreviously served as an elementary school principal in the Elmbrook School District and West Bend Joint School District and a coordinator for gifted and talented education and an elementary and middle school teacher in the Port WashingtonSaukville School District. This program regulates open burning during those times of the year when it is allowed and issues daily burning restrictions based on data . 44 and High School met in regular session on November 10, 2009 in the District Board Meeting Room. His interview will be held on Tuesday, March 7. The teacher, who the district did not identify, chose to resign from his position during the course of the investigation, according to the district. 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. 406-862-3505. Dr. Hocker has been Superintendent of Dickinson Public Schools since 2018. Posted 12:00:00 AM. In 2021, there were 84 efforts to recall school boards, according toBallotpedia. Mission - The Whitefish School District cultivates and supports a community that engages each student to succeed in continuous learning, career, and Fletcher has been quoted multiple times saying, we will not co-parent with the government, a phrase that appeared on many signs at a recent parental rights rally at the Montana State Capitol. 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. "Students and faculty who have been vaccinated will not need to quarantine if they are exposed and asymptomatic. The public may tune in at www.youtube.com/c/cdaschools271 to watch the sessions. And because of that, they were all sort of complicit., And Paatalo said in an email its not just about masks: Masking is only the subject matter. She previously served as the Executive Regional Director of the. Full Time position. 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 Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Underly, superintendent of the Pecatonica School District in southwest Wisconsin, has the support of many left-leaning groups and unions. Naperville School District 203 Superintendent Dan Bridges has been named Superintendent of Distinction for DuPage County by the Illinois . At the center of her frustration were comments from Whitefish School Board Trustee Jerrie Boksich, who she said misinterpreted survey results by saying she believes strongly recommend or recommend could fall in the required category or the optional category. I am honored to work with such outstanding staff and our board of trustees who are committed to supporting each student to achieve at the highest level. 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. Our achievements validate our district priorities of growth for each student, using data to drive improvement, and providing safe, inclusive and welcoming schools. In Missoula, participants at the meeting this week also discussed gathering again to continue their plans to elect members of their parental rights movement to the school board. 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. While in Washington, he taught language arts and social studies at the middle school level and coached. 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. Shakers Cigar Bar is Shakin' Up the Local Jazz Scene! (click here for directions). It states, the public has the right to expect governmental agencies to afford such reasonable opportunity for citizen participation in the operation of the agencies prior to the final decision.. I did it all by myself, she said. In its own way, the resource rivaled the great forest of white pine or the buffaloes on the western plains. I think strongly recommended can go down with mask required, just as much as it goes up with mask optional.. Im just truly, have been and continue to be inspired by all of you, our community, our educators, and how weve come together.. The other 22(d)2 schools are Whitefish in Paradise, Mackinac Island, DeTour, and Beaver Island. Kalispell, MT 59901 Hill transitioned from principal of Glacier High School in Kalispell to . All materials can be accessed at www.whitefishschools.org on the WHS Expansion Needs link. 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. In 2021, there were 84 efforts to recall school boards, according to Ballotpedia. She said Fletcher prompted people to start groups and show up to local school board meetings saying, just showing up puts the fear of God in them. Additionally, DeVries said Fletcher told people to have respect for school board members but also made it clear that this was a culture war, telling the crowd, No one has a constitutional right. 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. Presenting to the Board/Getting on the Agenda: Board policy stipulates that persons wishing to make a presentation at our board meetings must contact the Superintendent, a minimum of five business days in advance . Crossing Over with Psychic Medium John Edward Live! Fax number of the Superintendent of Schools. Im humbled, honored, and just thankful for this opportunity, Means said. "If face coverings are optional and the number of active COVID-19 cases in Flathead County increase to the point of threatening school closures, the Board of Trustees authorizes the superintendent to implement a requirement for face coverings to be worn in identified district buildings until such time as the Board of Trustees can adopt an applicable district requirement," Means said in his email. Prior to taking the interim superintendent job, Means worked for 16 years as the director of education services for the school district. . Dr. Heather Davis Schmidt has been the Superintendent of the Whitefish School District in Whitefish, Montana, since 2015. Muldown offers a myriad of learning experiences in our K-4 ALPS program. "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. The office is administrative - performing duties outlined by state law, the Board of Public Education, and the Office of Public Instruction. And when the government moves against it, I would say the government is the one with the movement, not us. Join or sign in to find your next job. 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. Prior to that, Orozco was superintendent of Whitefish School District in Whitefish, Mont., from 2011 to 2015. Previously, they were mandatory for students and staff to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Gavigan, who has served as superintendent for three years, said Whitefish Bay schools are in good hands with Myrah. Sign up for our newsletter and get the best of the Beacon delivered every day to your inbox. Our young musicians offer music performances for their parents and community throughout the year. Whitefish were everywhere--in all the lakes and on all the shores. And she said shes dismayed that none of the other board members voiced a concern either: The rest of the board members sat there silent, and not a single one of them said Hold on, I dont think recommend means the same as required. Nobody pushed back on that strange narrative. The board of trustees has established a search committee to plan and organize the process of hiring her replacement. For more information, please click on the link above. This honor continues to speak to our staff, administration, and the students of Whitefish High School and our entire district. I will help make the transition to the next Superintendent a smooth and positive process for all.. But Paatalo disagreed with Boksichs assertion that recommended could mean required just as much as it could mean optional. "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. 406-755-7000. 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. The Coeur d'Alene district has 10,000 students and 1,350. In 2016 he was named Wyoming Superintendent of the Year. The district said that people with questions or concerns can email info@whitefishschools.org. First, a little about the history. She also has served as the Whitefish Education Association president for the past two years. The Whitefish School District is moving forward with planning for a possible high school expansion in order to address the enrollment increases that are occurring now and are anticipated to. The superintendent, who earlier appeared at an anti-mask rally with parents in Billings, also said she had attended a Moms for America event in Alexandria, Virginia, one week earlier, and she was proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with those moms. Whitefish Bay School District | Whitefish Bay WI Viewers will be able to provide comments on the candidates responses. 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. 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. All critical information should be independently verified. The efforts by our teachers, staff, and families have, enabled us to provide education in ways that are increasingly flexible and supportive of students, I look forward to continuing to collaborate with one another as we build upon the exceptional, educational system and programs we have in Whitefish Schools. The WEA survey saw similar results, with 65 percent of the votes favoring an optional or recommended approach and 35 percent for some requirement level. Additionally, he obtained a Master of Arts in educational leadership with an endorsement in administration before moving back to Montana. Her deadline f0r all seven petitions is Dec. 29, and she said shell continue to circulate the petitions in Whitefish. Nonetheless, across the country, similar efforts have been growing. Lengacher, though, said he had no problem with his address being posted online but had issues with part of the intention, which he said he believes was to make school more members lives more difficult. 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.. 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. Pre-Decorated Products Youth Mask Colors Pro Fit Mask Colors Neck Gaiter Colors Seamless Mask Colors Ladies Interlock Cardigan Colors Interlock 1/4 Zip Colors Unisex Jersey Long Sleeve Tee Colors Unisex LS PosiCharge Competitor Tee Colors Unisex Fan Favorite Hoodie Colors