K-12 Education: Open Enrollment Plummeting at MPS Elsie Arntzen, Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction, walks into Parental Rights Education Action meeting at Crosspoint Church in Missoula on Nov. 1, 2021. Title: Food Safety/ QA Superintendent. And when the government moves against it, I would say the government is the one with the movement, not us. They have God-given rights protected by the constitution.. Whitefish School District 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. Before becoming an administrator, Webster taught for nine years. 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. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish PIlot). The Missoula County Public Schools board will interview one person in its second attempt at a superintendent search this school year. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Some school board members that spoke with the Daily Montanan said they have received offensive messages but nothing that has escalated to the point of violent threats. 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. "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.". 208-664-8176. Fulfills other responsibilities as assigned by the Superintendent. Montana School Boards Association director Lance Melton maintained Flathead County District Court still will need to determine if the petitions meet legal standards. His office also published a series of essays that cast doubt on the wide body of research that has shown the efficacy of Masking. Privacy Policy The office includes the superintendent, Cal Ketchum, a finance technician, Cheryl Morgan, and an administrative assistant. Education Based on 10 salaries Teacher 3 salaries School Counselor 3 salaries View More Administrative Based on 2 salaries Executive Assistant 1 salary Clerical 1 salary View More Nasello is currently principal of Hirsch Elementary in Tracy, California, a position shes held since 2019. The board of trustees has established a search committee to plan and organize the process of hiring her replacement. wfbschools.com - Whitefish Bay Schools | An Exceptional Place to Learn 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 Whitefish School District seeks a Director of Student Services to join one of the leading school districts in the state of Montana. 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. In 25 years, Melton said he has never seen a recall presented to voters. Elsie Arntzen, Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction, walks into Parental Rights Education Action meeting at . Website Disclaimer. Means is originally from Missoula and also spent time working in Bozeman and Kodiak, Alaska, in his earlier years beginning his career in education. THE COLUMBIA Falls School District is in what's known as Phase III, which makes the use of masks optional. Dr. Hocker has been Superintendent of Dickinson Public Schools since 2018. McAdam said the recall effort is a continuation of efforts started during the pandemic by anti-government groups to spread misinformation and sow distrust in local government. 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. WHITEFISH SCHOOL DISTRICT #44 hiring Elementary Principal (Beginning 23 For more information, please click on the link above. Gavigan, who has served as superintendent for three years, said Whitefish Bay schools are in good hands with Myrah. One time a person said to me, wow, why would he take that job in a pandemic? Muldown Elementary Principal Linda Whitright said during the meeting. "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. Muldown offers a myriad of learning experiences in our K-4 ALPS program. Our achievements validate our district priorities of growth for each student, using data to drive improvement, and providing safe, inclusive and welcoming schools. 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. I will help make the transition to the next Superintendent a smooth and positive process for all.. 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. Muldown Elementary School is named after former Whitefish Schools Superintendent, ski pioneer, and prominent community member, Lloyd "Mully" Muldown. The district has 4,500 students and 650 staff. Nonetheless, across the country, similar efforts have been growing. Flathead Valley Schools Finalize Face Covering Policies The district wants to emphasize the importance of coming forward to share any concerns regarding electronic or other forms of communication.. Short biographies of each candidate were included in Means email, which was sent out prior to the interviews. 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. Whitefish, MT 59937 727 East Idaho Opens in a new tab. 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. But Trustee Todd Lengacher told the Daily Montanan the board took a myriad of information into account from a variety of sources, including hours of public comment, letters, advice from medical experts, and guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in addition to the survey results in making its decision to mandate masks for K-6 graders. 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. Whitefish Public Schools mission focuses on. Laura Myrah Appointed Interim Superintendent - Whitefish Bay, WI Patch 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.. All materials can be accessed at www.whitefishschools.org on the WHS Expansion Needs link. 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. Last week, Arntzen spoke at a parental rights event in Missoula, where speakers vowed to unseat school board trustees in the upcoming election. State epidemiologists would later say the move by the governors officespread misinformation. Any questions should be directed to the administrators of this or any other specific sites. In 2021, there were 84 efforts to recall school boards, according toBallotpedia. Superintendent Job Brookfield Wisconsin USA,Software Development So, I guess, I look at this survey in a different way. All critical information should be independently verified. 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. Whitefish School District. 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. 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. and Whitefish have experienced significant population growth and property inflation in recent years, more so than others . Naperville School District 203 Superintendent Dan Bridges has been named Superintendent of Distinction for DuPage County by the Illinois . I care deeply about all of our students, teachers, support staff, administrators, families, and the community of Whitefish, Davis Schmidt said. 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 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. When you have the State Superintendent of Public Schools encouraging parents to organize against school board decisions, its alarming. Apply Join or sign in to find your next job. 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. Muldown Elementary School 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. Terms of Use | 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. Job specializations: Management. Team Leader, Operations Manager, General Manager, Maintenance Manager. 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. Use of this site is subject to the Flathead Beacon's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. MCPS school board selects 1 applicant for superintendent interview Whitefish High School 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. Im just truly, have been and continue to be inspired by all of you, our community, our educators, and how weve come together.. I abhor personal attacks, whether verbal or otherwise, against my fellow trustees.. "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. But then that person said, you know he just seems like that this is it, this is his place.. 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. Shakers Cigar Bar is Shakin' Up the Local Jazz Scene! 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. "I am blessed with an ability to love and understand people and what motivates them.". Assistant to the Superintendent Katie McKay Accounts Payable Specialist Carly Watkins Payroll Specialist Ms. Brianne Fuzesy Technology Integration Specialist . copyright 2023 Whitefish Bay School District Salaries - Glassdoor Superintendent - Our District - Whiteford Agricultural Schools 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. Home - Superintendents Welcome - Whitefish School 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. County health will be verifying vaccine status for those who are seeking to avoid quarantine. The 2021 Whitefish School Board Trustee Candidates are Quincy Bennetts, David Diehl, Leanette Kearns, Todd Lengacher and Emily Morrow. 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. Prior to that, she served as an assistant principal in Tracy Unified School District since 2017. 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. 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. Manage and continually develop all safety and housekeeping efforts in the Recycled Fiber Plant and Bale Receiving Warehouse. Apparel | Whitefish School District 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 two employee unions in the district, the Whitefish Classified Employees Association and the Whitefish Education Association were also surveyed. Mr. Fisher further indicated that the Weed District would continue to provide weed education and perform survey work if grant funds are received. Whitefish Bay School District is a top performing district in Wisconsin and the Midwest. 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. Center for Sustainability and Entrepreneurship. Our school district is truly an exceptional place to learn." 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. 44 and High School District Board Room January 10, 2023 . Listed on 2023-02-28. There have been no deaths in the age group. Web Accessibility Complaint Form Web Accessibility Statement. Elementary School, School Principal, Education Administration. Kalispell, MT 59901 But Paatalo disagreed with Boksichs assertion that recommended could mean required just as much as it could mean optional. We will continue to strive to make decisions that are in the best interest of the health and safety of our district.". P: 406.862.8640 F: 406.862.1507. 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. 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. 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. Members Present: Others present: Chairperson Clarke Superintendent Means . While in Washington, he taught language arts and social studies at the middle school level and coached. copyright 2023 Glassdoor has salaries, wages, tips, bonuses, and hourly pay based upon employee reports and estimates. 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. 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. Crossing Over with Psychic Medium John Edward Live! This honor continues to speak to our staff, administration, and the students of Whitefish High School and our entire district. Heather Davis Schmidt will fulfill remainder of school year, search committee to seek replacement. "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. Whitefish School District seeks a Principal to join one of the leading school districts in the state of Montana. 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. With 10 years of experience as an administrator, Webster is currently the principal of Madison Elementary School in Mesa, Arizona. During the meeting, trustees heard input from 41 members of the public. 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. "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. Maintenance/Cleaning. 311 California Ave. Underly, superintendent of the Pecatonica School District in southwest Wisconsin, has the support of many left-leaning groups and unions. Superintendent - Mobile Maintenance. 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. 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. The Flathead County Election officials told the Whitefish Pilotthey have never dealt with a recall before and are taking the process step by step. The movement has resurfaced recently as frustrations mount over the pandemic and its restrictions. 406-293-4124. Orozco has been director of elementary education, then assistant superintendent of elementary education and instruction, since 2015. 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. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin gave $775,000 to her . 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.. The framework and assistance are also provided for other cooperatives. 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. Jenny Paatalo, a Whitefish parent who filed the recall petitions told the Daily Montanan while she did not agree with the boards decision, she decided to launch the effort after becoming displeased with the boards conduct and the process that led to the mask mandate for K-6 graders. Arntzen also is not the states only elected official to weigh in on the power struggle between parents and school boards. First, a little about the history. ", copyright 2023 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.. 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. 406-862-3505. (School board recalls) are very complicated and barely used, Melton said. Prior to that, Orozco was superintendent of Whitefish School District in Whitefish, Mont., from 2011 to 2015. 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 . The public may tune in at www.youtube.com/c/cdaschools271 to watch the sessions. 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.. Finalists for Frenchtown School District superintendent being - KPAX Join or sign in to find your next job. I am enthused and proud to serve our district as interim superintendent.". It really is something that Im excited about. The district said that people with questions or concerns can email info@whitefishschools.org. Superintendent's Message . 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. Whitefish Public Schools mission focuses on cultivating and supporting a community . 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. In 2021, there were 84 efforts to recall school boards, according to Ballotpedia. Leadership / District Leadership - cdaschools.org Whitefish to study high school expansion options 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. Libby, MT 59923 The Coeur d'Alene district has 10,000 students and 1,350. 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.