whitefish school district superintendent whitefish school district superintendent

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. Easy Apply now by clicking the "Apply Now" button and sending us your resume. I abhor personal attacks, whether verbal or otherwise, against my fellow trustees.. Apply Join or sign in to find your next job. 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. "Ms. Myrahs rich background in educational research and effective practice, her passion for students and learning, and her demonstrated leadership within our district will help the School District of Whitefish Bay move forward consistent with its areas of focus and state-wide initiatives, Woodard said. 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. Orozco has been director of elementary education, then assistant superintendent of elementary education and instruction, since 2015. "I am blessed with an ability to love and understand people and what motivates them.". 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. Team Leader, Operations Manager, General Manager, Maintenance Manager. 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. Any questions should be directed to the administrators of this or any other specific sites. COEUR dALENE The search for a new Coeur d'Alene School District superintendent has been narrowed to two. 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. 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. 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. But youre their champion government, is not it.. The office is administrative - performing duties outlined by state law, the Board of Public Education, and the Office of Public Instruction. Opens in a new tab. The Coeur d'Alene district has 10,000 students and 1,350. powered by Educational Networks . Salary Class: Full Time, Exempt. 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. 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. 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. For a board to conduct itself in this manner lacks the basic integrity required of a politician.. 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. The statement added that it was important to inform families within the district of the situation and that the district took the appropriate action. 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. 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. Whitefish School District [[upButtonMessage]] full time. Six candidates were interviewed April 1 and 2, including Drea Beale, Lisa Bloom, John Coyne, Henry Mack, Catey Nasello and Sharon Webster. Hocker received his doctorate in educational leadership from Idaho State University in 2016 and his masters degree from ISU in 1999. I did it all by myself, she said. Mission - The Whitefish School District cultivates and supports a community that engages each student to succeed in continuous learning, career, and (Heidi Desch/Whitefish PIlot). Subject matters will come and go. Following a contentious, four-hour meeting Thursday night, the Whitefish School Board voted to require face coverings for students, staff and visitors in kindergarten through sixth grade while indoors, and is recommending masks for students, staff and visitors in seventh through twelfth grades, Superintendent Dave Means said in an email to families and school staff on Friday. New Online Community Survey Open Through January 16. I am enthused and proud to serve our district as interim superintendent.". 406-755-7000. 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. All critical information should be independently verified. The Missoula County Public Schools board will interview one person in its second attempt at a superintendent search this school year. The Flathead County Election officials told the Whitefish Pilotthey have never dealt with a recall before and are taking the process step by step. Job specializations: Management. Mack is principal of Roosevelt Elementary in Dickinson, North Dakota, a position hes held for 16 years. District 203 superintendent honored by state association. Assistant to the Superintendent Katie McKay Accounts Payable Specialist Carly Watkins Payroll Specialist Ms. Brianne Fuzesy Technology Integration Specialist . Our school district is truly an exceptional place to learn." Listing for: Whitefish School District. 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. Center for Sustainability and Entrepreneurship. 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. 311 California Ave. They have God-given rights protected by the constitution.. That, however, represents a big drop of 44% in the annual net loss of students to MPS. Matt Smith, a parent in the Whitefish district, criticized the board's decision in a letter to Means and the board, writing: "It was very clear through the words of the board when they stated 63% of parents and teachers voted to have masks be optional, how the large majority of our community stands on this topic. The framework and assistance are also provided for other cooperatives. Heather Davis Schmidt will fulfill remainder of school year, search committee to seek replacement. Gifted and Talented. Administrative/Clerical. 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 public forum for both candidates will be next Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. Each candidate will have one hour. 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.. 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. Last week in Missoula, however, a suggestion to shoot superintendents by a lawyer who said he was making a play on words in a joke elicited strong statements of condemnation both from Missoula County Public Schools and Superintendent Arntzen. Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814 The Trustees of Whitefish School District No. Heather Davis Schmidt, the superintendent of Whitefish School District, has submitted her resignation to the board of trustees effective at the end of the 2019-2020 school year. 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. Whitefish Public Schools mission focuses on cultivating and supporting a community . 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. "I look forward to building on my existing relationship with students, staff, parents, and community members to not only continue our tradition of excellence but to enhance and expand it. Whitefish Public Schools mission focuses on cultivating and supporting a community . The public may tune in at www.youtube.com/c/cdaschools271 to watch the sessions. Whitefish School District. The other 22(d)2 schools are Whitefish in Paradise, Mackinac Island, DeTour, and Beaver Island. Members Present: Others present: Chairperson Clarke Superintendent Means . She said she was upset the board did not allow for public comment during deliberation among trustees about the mask policy. 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. Mack holds a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education from Jamestown College and a masters degree from Northern State University, both located in North Dakota. But Paatalo disagreed with Boksichs assertion that recommended could mean required just as much as it could mean optional. 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.. Six. However, there will still be quarantine requirements for infected people who aren't vaccinated. 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. His experience and professional knowledge has enabled him to navigate the changing landscape in a manner that continues to strengthen this district., Means got his start in education by driving school buses while attending the University of Montana because he, enjoyed working with the kids It was just neat to create relationships with kids.. Whitefish School District No. "We are rallying, not only to have our voices heard regarding the clear disregard for the popular opinion and over reaching mandate, but we are rallying as a community that is tired of watching the policies being pushed upon our community by like-minded individuals as yourselves.". 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. Both Bloom and Coyne are current Whitefish School District employees. But he said he does not believe the board did anything to warrant a recall. Whitefish Public Schools mission focuses on. Her deadline f0r all seven petitions is Dec. 29, and she said shell continue to circulate the petitions in Whitefish. (School board recalls) are very complicated and barely used, Melton said. 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. 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 superintendent shall coordinate with the county health department and Board Chair to determine whether face coverings are a necessary response to a potential or actual COVID-19 outbreak., Paatalo also said the board, in failing to allow for public comment after Boksich interpreted the survey results, violated Montanas Constitutional Right of Participation. energy as they continue to grow on this journey. 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. There is a strong commitment to growth for each student in the Whitefish School District and there is also a direct relationship to our success from the support of the Whitefish community and our parents. Members Present: Chairperson Pat Jarvi, Dave Fern, Brian McDowell, Eric Hosek, and Ruth Harrison. Bloom has taught second and third grades at Muldown Elementary for the past 27 years. The trustees unanimously voted to schedule an interview with Micah Hill, who is currently the superintendent of Kalispell Public Schools. . Our young musicians offer music performances for their parents and community throughout the year. Of the 84, only eight have made it to ballots. Whitefish School District seeks a Principal to join one of the leading school districts in the state of Montana. 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. Previously, they were mandatory for students and staff to curb the spread of the coronavirus. As Means prepares to settle in further to the superintendent role, he said he looks forward to seeing Whitefish Schools continue to progress in a positive direction. The Office of the Flathead County Superintendent of Schools is the fiscal agent for two cooperatives - the Northwest Montana Educational Service Agency and the Flathead County Special Education Cooperative. Viewers will be able to provide comments on the candidates responses. 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. Sign up for our newsletter and get the best of the Beacon delivered every day to your inbox. She has a Master of Education in leadership and administration. There is also a Bulldog tip line available on each school website. Current. 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. All materials can be accessed at www.whitefishschools.org on the WHS Expansion Needs link. Laura Myrah is a strong leader with a vision of education that complements the districts beliefs and strategic direction," she said. Elsie Arntzen, Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction, walks into Parental Rights Education Action meeting at . In 2021, there were 84 efforts to recall school boards, according toBallotpedia. Its an honor to work in an effort to build upon the excellence of education we have in Whitefish. We Have Moved! Short biographies of each candidate were included in Means email, which was sent out prior to the interviews. Use of this site is subject to the Flathead Beacon's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Web Accessibility Complaint Form Web Accessibility Statement. 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. copyright 2023 and Whitefish have experienced significant population growth and property inflation in recent years, more so than others . Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. They did so with support from the highest elected school official in the state, Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen, and with encouragement from Moms for America, a group at the forefront of the parental rights movement whose president, Kimberly Fletcher, was involved inorganizingStop the Steal events and attended the Jan. 6 Stop the Steal riot at the U.S. Capitol. In a survey of Whitefish families, more than half of the 832 responses favored a mask-optional policy. copyright 2023 Superintendent Heather Davis Schmidt, right, at a Whitefish School Board meeting. Even if petitioners meet the threshold by the Dec. 29 deadline, the following steps are unclear. Chairwoman Jen Brumley said the board feels very fortunate to have two excellent candidates. Mr. Fisher further indicated that the Weed District would continue to provide weed education and perform survey work if grant funds are received. Get directions to the Superintendent of Schools. 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. As in many communities struggling with the COVID pandemic, the situation in Whitefish has turned neighbor against neighbor, exacerbating political differences. Both candidates are experienced and have students at the forefront of everything they do," Brumley said. Our students will one day be, charged with tackling local and global challenges. Underly, superintendent of the Pecatonica School District in southwest Wisconsin, has the support of many left-leaning groups and unions. We have achieved this by all working together. Before becoming an administrator, Webster taught for nine years. 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. The board of trustees has established a search committee to plan and organize the process of hiring her replacement. WHITEFISH SCHOOL DISTRICT NO.44Position . And when the government moves against it, I would say the government is the one with the movement, not us. 2023 Flathead Beacon, All Rights Reserved. Beale holds two masters degrees in teaching and learning and school leadership. Website Disclaimer. The pandemic is in its 20th month, and so far, 14,003 children aged 0 to 11 have been infected with COVID-19, with 58 of them needing to be hospitalized, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Shakers Cigar Bar is Shakin' Up the Local Jazz Scene! Supervisory responsibilities include areas of administration, legal issues, financial oversight, transportation, tuition, school district organization, classification, boundary adjustments, and centralized clerical and record keeping. Hill transitioned from principal of Glacier High School in Kalispell to . In Whitefish Schools we believe: Teaching and learning occurs effectively in both collaborative and independent processes, driven by students and teachers.Working together develops mutual respect, strong relationships, and trust within our schools and community.Whitefish Public Schools provide a foundation for an informed democracy. Whitefish Bay School District is a top performing district in Wisconsin and the Midwest. 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. 406-755-7000. wfbschools.com - Whitefish Bay Schools | An Exceptional Place to Learn 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. 44 and High School District Board Room January 10, 2023 . I care deeply about all of our students, teachers, support staff, administrators, families, and the community of Whitefish, Davis Schmidt said. The County Superintendent also fulfills state responsibilities for the home school population. The Coeur dAlene district has 10,000 students and 1,350 staff. The 2021 Whitefish School Board Trustee Candidates are Quincy Bennetts, David Diehl, Leanette Kearns, Todd Lengacher and Emily Morrow. Nasello is currently principal of Hirsch Elementary in Tracy, California, a position shes held since 2019. "Students and faculty who have been vaccinated will not need to quarantine if they are exposed and asymptomatic. Terms of Use | We have a new location in the Flathead County North Complex. 1470 & 1490 Garay Ln #1490-01, Pt Washington, WI 53074 is a 790 sqft, 2 bed, 1 bath home. 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. There have been no deaths in the age group. Join or sign in to find your next job. The district wants to emphasize the importance of coming forward to share any concerns regarding electronic or other forms of communication.. Kalispell, MT 59901 I think strongly recommended can go down with mask required, just as much as it goes up with mask optional.. 727 East Idaho 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. DeVries is the director of Love Lives Here, an anti-discrimination group in the Flathead and part of the Montana Human Rights Network. On Aug. 31, Gov. Libby, MT 59923 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. Congratulations to all the contestants and good luck to the three heading to the state competition! Whitefish School District seeks a Director of Student Services to join one of the leading school districts in the state of Montana. Title: Food Safety/ QA Superintendent. 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 56 were here. In this phase, mask wearing is up to the individual and we will not be screening students every day at the door," Superintendent Wick said in his letter. Great schools of the fish abounded. Still, Cherilyn DeVries, who attended the Moms for American meeting, said Arntzens participation fortified the idea that anti-mask parents have the right to refuse to abide by mask mandates in schools. The district said that people with questions or concerns can email info@whitefishschools.org. "We will continue, as required, with contact tracing and quarantining anyone within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more of a confirmed case," Wick said. Published on www.firebrickgroup.com 26 Feb 2023. A bit about us: We are a family company; we believe each project is an opportunity to unite the shared values of all, building it to create something significant. Muldown Elementary School is named after former Whitefish Schools Superintendent, ski pioneer, and prominent community member, Lloyd "Mully" Muldown. Whitefish schools will require masks on public transportation, such as school and activity buses, as required by federal law. Two community members and a student will ask the same set of questions selected from public suggestions. 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. In 2016 he was named Wyoming Superintendent of the Year. 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 Paatalo said interest on Facebook is high, but gathering the 2,391 required signatures for each petition in person has been difficult. . Travis McAdam, with the Montana Human Rights Network, said the parental rights movement isnt new and has percolated amongst anti-government groups for years. 215 N. 2nd St. 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. 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. Our students success through our collaborative work inspires us to do even more on behalf of our students. When you have the State Superintendent of Public Schools encouraging parents to organize against school board decisions, its alarming. 727 East Idaho "She also leads with balance and integrity, addressing issues with sensitivity, tact, and skill, while respecting differing points of view.. Prior to teaching in Whitefish, she taught grades second and fourth in Kelso, Washington, for six years and served as a K-8 summer school director for two years. 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 Arntzen also is not the states only elected official to weigh in on the power struggle between parents and school boards. Muldown offers a myriad of learning experiences in our K-4 ALPS program. And in a survey of 106 staff who are not part of the two unions, there were 64 votes for an optional policy.