For more information, please click on the link above. Center for Sustainability and Entrepreneurship. I fulfill my leadership role and job duties daily with great pride, integrity, and a belief in all children.. 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. "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. 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. 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. 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. Any questions should be directed to the administrators of this or any other specific sites. Her administrative experience also includes serving as principal of a public charter high school in Oakland, California. In a news release, Whitefish Bay School Board President Pam Woodard said Myrahs current leadership position with the district and her previous experiences make her well-suited to provide continuity and vision for the school district. See the estimate, review home details, and search for homes nearby. At parental rights events, speakers encouraged anti-mask proponents to challenge or disregard school policies they disagree with. 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. 208-664-8176. energy as they continue to grow on this journey. As in many communities struggling with the COVID pandemic, the situation in Whitefish has turned neighbor against neighbor, exacerbating political differences. Current. Whitefish Public Schools mission focuses on cultivating and supporting a community . 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. 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. But he said he does not believe the board did anything to warrant a recall. The Missoula County Public Schools board will interview one person in its second attempt at a superintendent search this school year. MCPS school board selects 1 applicant for superintendent interview . I care deeply about all of our students, teachers, support staff, administrators, families, and the community of Whitefish, Davis Schmidt said. Job specializations: Management. How much do Whitefish Bay School District employees make? Of the 84, only eight have made it to ballots. 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. Deadline: March 20, 2023 Complete job description & application are available at SUMMARY OF ASSIGNMENT: DeVries is the director of Love Lives Here, an anti-discrimination group in the Flathead and part of the Montana Human Rights Network. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish PIlot). Dr. Heather Davis Schmidt has been the Superintendent of the Whitefish School District in Whitefish, Montana, since 2015. The district still will offer remote learning for students who choose not to go to school in person. All critical information should be independently verified. I think strongly recommended can go down with mask required, just as much as it goes up with mask optional.. Back in 2013-14 the system lost 6,891 students through open enrollment and gained just 731 students . 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. (Fletcher) encouraged people to run for school board even if they didnt have any idea what that was about so they could challenge school districts on budget, curriculum, mask mandates, and critical race theory, according to Cherilyn DeVries, who attended the meeting. Muldown Elementary Principal-Whitefish School District Position Vacancy Muldown Elementary Principal beginning 23/24 school year. Listed on 2023-03-02. copyright 2023 Both Bloom and Coyne are current Whitefish School District employees. Step Two: 1. 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. 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. 44 and High School District Board Room January 10, 2023 . Mission - The Whitefish School District cultivates . The teacher, who the district did not identify, chose to resign from his position during the course of the investigation, according to the district. 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. Members Present: Others present: Chairperson Clarke Superintendent Means . 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. 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.. New Online Community Survey Open Through January 16. 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. She previously served as the Executive Regional Director of the. Im just truly, have been and continue to be inspired by all of you, our community, our educators, and how weve come together.. 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. In 2016 he was named Wyoming Superintendent of the Year. Crossing Over with Psychic Medium John Edward Live! 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 many resources to help our community learn more and continue our conversation about the future growth of Whitefish High School.. Terms of Use | 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. Coyne has been the assistant principal of Whitefish Middle School and Muldown Elementary since 2012, He started out his career teaching and coaching in Hamilton, where he spent 21 years and then moved to Vancouver, Washington for 10 years. 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 . Prior to that, she served as an assistant principal in Tracy Unified School District since 2017. We have achieved this by all working together. The trustees unanimously voted to schedule an interview with Micah Hill, who is currently the superintendent of Kalispell Public Schools. 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 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. Myrah received an elementary education degree from Concordia University Wisconsin, a masters degree in educational leadership from Cardinal Stritch University, and an educational specialist degree equivalency in school administration through St. Marys University of Minnesota. "We recognize how challenging the last 17 months have been during this global pandemic," Means said. Superintendent's Message . Zeroing in on the mask issue has moved away from even being about masks to being about freedom., He said he understands the frustration coming from parents, but he would like the tone of discussions to be less strident: They feel powerless in some way around their childs wellbeing, and I will never begrudge a parent for standing up for their child, but how we are doing it is not the most productive way.. The framework and assistance are also provided for other cooperatives. In 2021, there were 84 efforts to recall school boards, according to Ballotpedia. Six candidates were interviewed April 1 and 2, including Drea Beale, Lisa Bloom, John Coyne, Henry Mack, Catey Nasello and Sharon Webster. 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. 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. So, I guess, I look at this survey in a different way. Assistant to the Superintendent Katie McKay Accounts Payable Specialist Carly Watkins Payroll Specialist Ms. Brianne Fuzesy Technology Integration Specialist . 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 WEA survey saw similar results, with 65 percent of the votes favoring an optional or recommended approach and 35 percent for some requirement level. Title: Food Safety/ QA Superintendent. Purpose & Scope: Reports directly to the Technical Service Director and has primary responsibility for the direction of the workforce to achieve all safety, food safety, and quality goals as set forth by facility management. P: 406.862.8640 F: 406.862.1507. The statement added that it was important to inform families within the district of the situation and that the district took the appropriate action. 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. She has a Master of Education in leadership and administration. He was superintendent of the Big Horn School District in Cowley, Wyo., from 2007 to 2018. As a result, we deliver exceptional client experiences that require . In a survey of Whitefish families, more than half of the 832 responses favored a mask-optional policy. First, a little about the history. Easy Apply now by clicking the "Apply Now" button and sending us your resume. 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. 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. "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. 1 . We have a new location in the Flathead County North Complex. 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. Superintendent - Mobile Maintenance. "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. My concerns being on a public school board right now are how we as a civilization are treating each other and working through differences, and that is playing out at the local level in some unpleasant ways, he said. The Columbia Falls School Board voted to make masks optional in June. 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.. 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. WHITEFISH SCHOOL DISTRICT NO.44Position DescriptionAREA: Assistant CoachREPORTS TO: HeadSee this and similar jobs on LinkedIn. He settled down in Whitefish though, and his own children have attended Whitefish Schools. 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 "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. A mom is accusing the Whitefish Bay School District of discriminating against racial minorities because it has denied her daughter special education services. Whitefish School District seeks a Principal to join one of the leading school districts in the state of Montana. Chairwoman Jen Brumley said the board feels very fortunate to have two excellent candidates. 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. 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. 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. 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. But the school district says. 311 California Ave. Hill transitioned from principal of Glacier High School in Kalispell to . And in a survey of 106 staff who are not part of the two unions, there were 64 votes for an optional policy. A campaign to recall all members of the Whitefish school board is underway, The Daily Montanan reports, with supporters arguing trustees ignored parents constitutional rights by not allowing the right of participation when deciding to implement a mask mandate in the district for children not old enough to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin gave $775,000 to her . "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. WHITEFISH SCHOOL DISTRICT NO.44Position . Many of those speaking in favor of a mask mandate asked the trustees to listen to medical experts, but Paatalo was among those who alleged the masks could be harmful. Our developmental music program provides a solid foundation for Whitefish students as they prepare for Middle and High school music programs. "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. Beacon file photo Heather Davis Schmidt, the superintendent of Whitefish School District, has. The district has 4,500 students and 650 staff. District 203 superintendent honored by state association. Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814 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. Montana School Boards Association director Lance Melton maintained Flathead County District Court still will need to determine if the petitions meet legal standards. Even outside the scope of the recall, parents in Whitefish and the Flathead have been agitating against school boards and mask mandates. "You are a public school board, not a private school board and your deliberations should reflect such," Smith asserted in his letter. "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. It is a "sounding board", assisting school boards, educators, parents, students, and communities to understand federal, state, and local laws relevant to education. In 2021, there were 84 efforts to recall school boards, according toBallotpedia. "The board is looking forward to getting to know each candidate better. Terms of Use | 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. 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. There is also a Bulldog tip line available on each school website. Get directions to the Superintendent of Schools. Team Leader, Operations Manager, General Manager, Maintenance Manager. Salary Class: Full Time, Exempt. If Im strongly recommending something, that is what I am urging people to do; thats what I want to happen, Boksich said at the meeting, according to an audio recording shared with the Daily Montanan. The main entrance to the new Muldown Elementary School building. All materials can be accessed at www.whitefishschools.org on the WHS Expansion Needs link. 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. 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. 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. 2023 Flathead Beacon, All Rights Reserved. Arntzen also is not the states only elected official to weigh in on the power struggle between parents and school boards. Current Superintendent Mary Gavigan announced earlier this month that she intends to resign, as she has accepted the position of executive director of CESA #1. Gavigan, who has served as superintendent for three years, said Whitefish Bay schools are in good hands with Myrah. Nonetheless, across the country, similar efforts have been growing. 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. On Aug. 31, Gov. copyright 2023 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. 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. 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. 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. 56 were here. In its own way, the resource rivaled the great forest of white pine or the buffaloes on the western plains. The County Superintendent has general supervision of the public schools of the county. "She also leads with balance and integrity, addressing issues with sensitivity, tact, and skill, while respecting differing points of view.. Privacy Policy . It's an honor to work in an effort to build upon the excellence of education we have in Whitefish. 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. 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. But then that person said, you know he just seems like that this is it, this is his place.. copyright 2023 Libby, MT 59923 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. Superintendent Heather Davis Schmidt, right, at a Whitefish School Board meeting. 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. 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. Sarah Scott's role at Whitefish High School includes facilitating the district's goal to become recognized as a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS), and she said Craig has been instrumental. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. State epidemiologists would later say the move by the governors officespread misinformation. I just got really mad at that meeting, and I spent three weeks writing and researching.. packet at the District Office at 600 2nd St E in Whitefish, Monday - Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm. Muldown offers a myriad of learning experiences in our K-4 ALPS program. Great schools of the fish abounded. We Have Moved! For a board to conduct itself in this manner lacks the basic integrity required of a politician.. The board also made allowances for extenuating circumstances, such as a potential or actual COVID-19 outbreak.