(Courtesy photos) by WHITNEY ENGLAND Whitefish Pilot | April 22, 2021 1:45 PM Editor's note: This story originally ran in the April 14, 2021 edition of the Whitefish Pilot. 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. 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. Recording of December 14 Community Engagement Meeting, Powerpoint presentation December 14 Community Engagement Meeting, The Whitefish School District cultivates and supports a community, Center for Sustainability and Entrepreneurship. 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. Website Disclaimer. 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. I am enthused and proud to serve our district as interim superintendent.". 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. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 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. Terms of Use | 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. Muldown offers a myriad of learning experiences in our K-4 ALPS program. The framework and assistance are also provided for other cooperatives. 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. Nonetheless, across the country, similar efforts have been growing. The teacher, who the district did not identify, chose to resign from his position during the course of the investigation, according to the district. 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. 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. "Kate has clear roots here in Coeur d'Alene. 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. Step Two: 1. 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. 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. Our school district is truly an exceptional place to learn." 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. Manage and continually develop all safety and housekeeping efforts in the Recycled Fiber Plant and Bale Receiving Warehouse. packet at the District Office at 600 2nd St E in Whitefish, Monday - Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm. Trustee Shannon Hanson also said that being under the watchful eye of citizens is part of the job, and he welcomes efforts to hold school boards accountable to the law. Shakers Cigar Bar is Shakin' Up the Local Jazz Scene! Last spring after an unsuccessful superintendent search to replace former Superintendent Heather Davis Schmidt, the district offered the position on an interim basis to Means. The Coeur d'Alene district has 10,000 students and 1,350. His office also published a series of essays that cast doubt on the wide body of research that has shown the efficacy of Masking. Beacon file photo Heather Davis Schmidt, the superintendent of Whitefish School District, has. How much do Whitefish Bay School District employees make? 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. "We recognize how challenging the last 17 months have been during this global pandemic," Means said. Back in 2013-14 the system lost 6,891 students through open enrollment and gained just 731 students . We have many resources to help our community learn more and continue our conversation about the future growth of Whitefish High School.. WHITEFISH, MONT. 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. 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. Mission - The Whitefish School District cultivates and supports a community that engages each student to succeed in continuous learning, career, and citizenship. But Paatalo disagreed with Boksichs assertion that recommended could mean required just as much as it could mean optional. 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. Kalispell, MT 59901 Libby, MT 59923 Even if petitioners meet the threshold by the Dec. 29 deadline, the following steps are unclear. P: 406.862.8640 F: 406.862.1507. Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814 The public forum for both candidates will be next Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. Each candidate will have one hour. Web Accessibility Complaint Form Web Accessibility Statement. Dr. Heather Davis Schmidt has been the Superintendent of the Whitefish School District in Whitefish, Montana, since 2015. 727 East Idaho 1470 & 1490 Garay Ln #1490-01, Pt Washington, WI 53074 is a 790 sqft, 2 bed, 1 bath home. Superintendent Means presented for the Board's review, discussion and possible action the 12/13/22 draft Safe Return to In -Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan and the 7/19/22 Whitefish School District COVID -19 Guidelines and Procedures, which includes the latest draft of the Whitefish 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.. DeVries is the director of Love Lives Here, an anti-discrimination group in the Flathead and part of the Montana Human Rights Network. Of the 84, only eight have made it to ballots. (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. powered by Educational Networks . Whitefish Bay School District | Whitefish Bay WI WHITEFISH SCHOOL DISTRICT #44 Whitefish, MT. We Have Moved! Of the 84, only eight have made it to ballots. 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. Whitefish school board recall effort is emblematic of bigger movement. WHITEFISH SCHOOL DISTRICT NO.44Position DescriptionAREA: Assistant CoachREPORTS TO: HeadSee this and similar jobs on LinkedIn. Greg Gianforte issuedemergency guidance urging school boards to allow parents to opt their children out of mask mandates. 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. 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). 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 But the previous high during the last 13 years was 38 recall attempts in 2010. 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.. In a survey of Whitefish families, more than half of the 832 responses favored a mask-optional policy. 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. Privacy Policy Privacy Policy Whitefish Public Schools mission focuses on. 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, MT 59937 Lake whitefish, the primary Great Lakes species, was one of the highest quality food fishes ever discovered throughout the world. 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. "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. Fax number of the Superintendent of Schools. Listed on 2023-03-02. WHITEFISH SCHOOL DISTRICT NO.44Position . The district still will offer remote learning for students who choose not to go to school in person. In 2021, there were 84 efforts to recall school boards, according to Ballotpedia. 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. Superintendent's Message Staff . Making the final decision on this matter is exclusively the responsibility and purview of the board as a whole, Hanson said in an email. "You are a public school board, not a private school board and your deliberations should reflect such," Smith asserted in his letter. A mom is accusing the Whitefish Bay School District of discriminating against racial minorities because it has denied her daughter special education services. Members Present: Chairperson Pat Jarvi, Dave Fern, Brian McDowell, Eric Hosek, and Ruth Harrison. Whitefish School District seeks a Principal to join one of the leading school districts in the state of Montana. 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. Muldown Elementary School is named after former Whitefish Schools Superintendent, ski pioneer, and prominent community member, Lloyd "Mully" Muldown. In fact, members of the public did comment at the meeting, even though they didnt have the chance to do so after the motion to require masks was under consideration. Masks also will be optional but strongly encouraged at Kalispell Public Schools, following a decision by that district's board earlier this week. Even outside the scope of the recall, parents in Whitefish and the Flathead have been agitating against school boards and mask mandates. 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 Mr. Fisher further indicated that the Weed District would continue to provide weed education and perform survey work if grant funds are received. She called the efforts a very strategic way to justify attacks on elected officials and muddle the issue.. energy as they continue to grow on this journey. Administrative/Clerical. She has a Master of Education in leadership and administration. Currently, we are only able to do fingerprints by appointment only. Deadline: March 20, 2023 Complete job description & application are available at SUMMARY OF ASSIGNMENT: Short biographies of each candidate were included in Means email, which was sent out prior to the interviews. In 2021, there were 84 efforts to recall school boards, according toBallotpedia. Whitefish School District Address 600 East Second Street Whitefish, MT 59937 USA Industry Education Report Job Most Popular Elementary Principal Job Categories Elementary Schools Elementary School School Administration Bilingual Elementary Teacher Other Helpful Pages Related To Elementary Principal Elementary Principal Salaries All Jobs 600 East 2nd St. Whitefish, MT 59937 . 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. Our Superintendent Superintendent Dan Zorn, October 2021 "Literacy is the most important thing we do!" Contact Us Dr. Dan Zorn - Superintendent Holly Pfenniger - Executive Assistant Office Hours 7:30am-4:30pm Summer Hours 8:00am-4:00pm Address: 2715 Lilac St Longview, WA 98632 Office: 360.575.7016 Fax: 360.575.7022 Whitefish School District 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.". "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. Six. copyright 2023 The Trustees of Whitefish School District No. I will help make the transition to the next Superintendent a smooth and positive process for all.. Even outside the scope of the recall, parents in Whitefish and the Flathead have been agitating against school boards and mask mandates. 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.. 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. After the unanimous approval by the board to offer him the contract, Means expressed his gratitude for the support and his readiness to continue leading the district. He settled down in Whitefish though, and his own children have attended Whitefish Schools. 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. Viewers will be able to provide comments on the candidates responses. In 2016 he was named Wyoming Superintendent of the Year. Whitefish School District seeks a Principal to join one of the leading school districts in the state of Montana. Join to apply for the Substitute Custodian role at WHITEFISH SCHOOL DISTRICT #44. Underly, superintendent of the Pecatonica School District in southwest Wisconsin, has the support of many left-leaning groups and unions. 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. He was superintendent of the Big Horn School District in Cowley, Wyo., from 2007 to 2018. His responsibilities in that role included supervising the special education programs, overseeing section 504 plans for students with disabilities, supporting human resources, and working on homelessness and mental health services. wfbschools.com - Whitefish Bay Schools | An Exceptional Place to Learn 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. The district has 4,500 students and 650 staff. Assistant to the Superintendent Katie McKay Accounts Payable Specialist Carly Watkins Payroll Specialist Ms. Brianne Fuzesy Technology Integration Specialist . 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. Location: Green Bay. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Arntzen spoke at a parental rights event in Missoula. 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. 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. Elsie Arntzen, Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction, walks into Parental Rights Education Action meeting at Crosspoint Church in Missoula on Nov. 1, 2021. 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.. 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. 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. County health will be verifying vaccine status for those who are seeking to avoid quarantine. 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. Email search21@cdaschools.org to submit a question to be considered for the public forum. Bloom has taught second and third grades at Muldown Elementary for the past 27 years. She also has credentials in K-8 multiple subject teaching and K-12 administrative services. Our achievements validate our district priorities of growth for each student, using data to drive improvement, and providing safe, inclusive and welcoming schools. Paatalo said interest on Facebook is high, but gathering the 2,391 required signatures for each petition in person has been difficult. 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. Laura Myrah is a strong leader with a vision of education that complements the districts beliefs and strategic direction," she said. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish PIlot). As a result, we deliver exceptional client experiences that require . Get directions to the Superintendent of Schools. 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. 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. Minutes from the August meeting also do not show any violent threats lobbed at the board. COEUR dALENE The search for a new Coeur d'Alene School District superintendent has been narrowed to two. Whitefish schools will require masks on public transportation, such as school and activity buses, as required by federal law. 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. 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 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. (Dec. 20, 2022) Coming off of its second community engagement meeting on December 14, Whitefish School District is seeking additional community feedback about the need for expansion at Whitefish High School and the activities complex. It is a full-time position due to the large number of independent school districts in Flathead County (23). 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. Full Time position. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin gave $775,000 to her . I think its almost just people asserting their natural positions in nature, she said. The Coeur d'Alene School Board will interview the candidates next Thursday and Friday. His interview will be held on Tuesday, March 7. 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. 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. Additionally, he obtained a Master of Arts in educational leadership with an endorsement in administration before moving back to Montana. 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, the policy said. Naperville School District 203 Superintendent Dan Bridges has been named Superintendent of Distinction for DuPage County by the Illinois . 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. Means is originally from Missoula and also spent time working in Bozeman and Kodiak, Alaska, in his earlier years beginning his career in education. Whitefish School District powered by Educational Networks In 25 years, Melton said he has never seen a recall presented to voters. Team Leader, Operations Manager, General Manager, Maintenance Manager. But the school district says. It is a "sounding board", assisting school boards, educators, parents, students, and communities to understand federal, state, and local laws relevant to education. 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. Trustee Boksich WHS Principal Drown 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. Myrah has served as the district's director of curriculum and instruction for four years. "The board is looking forward to getting to know each candidate better. 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. Whitefish School District [[upButtonMessage]] full time. 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. 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 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. But then that person said, you know he just seems like that this is it, this is his place.. Listing for: Sibanye Stillwater Ltd. Full Time position. The office includes the superintendent, Cal Ketchum, a finance technician, Cheryl Morgan, and an administrative assistant. 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. The County Superintendent has general supervision of the public schools of the county. Join to apply for the Principal (Beginning 23/24) role at WHITEFISH SCHOOL DISTRICT #44Principal (Beginning 23/24) role at WHITEFISH SCHOOL DISTRICT #44 The Coeur dAlene district has 10,000 students and 1,350 staff. The district wants to emphasize the importance of coming forward to share any concerns regarding electronic or other forms of communication.. Whitefish Public Schools mission focuses on cultivating and supporting a community . Help us tell stories like this one and get other great perks by joining the Editors Club for as little as $5 per month. 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. Job specializations: Education. But the previous high during the last 13 years was 38 recall attempts in 2010. Myrah will temporarily fill the position on July 1. 312 E. Second Street Gavigan, who has served as superintendent for three years, said Whitefish Bay schools are in good hands with Myrah. ", copyright 2023 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. 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. Before becoming an administrator, Webster taught for nine years. 215 N. 2nd St. 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. 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.