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. Paatalo said interest on Facebook is high, but gathering the 2,391 required signatures for each petition in person has been difficult. However, there will still be quarantine requirements for infected people who aren't vaccinated. (School board recalls) are very complicated and barely used, Melton said. 406-755-7000. Additionally, he obtained a Master of Arts in educational leadership with an endorsement in administration before moving back to Montana. Previously, they were mandatory for students and staff to curb the spread of the coronavirus. She received her doctorate in leadership studies from Gonzaga University in 2005 and her masters degree from Gonzaga in 1994. In a unanimous vote, the board opted to require masks for students, staff, and visitors in K-6 and recommend face coverings for grades 7-12, according to the minutes. Whitefish School District. Website Disclaimer. Salary: $100,000 - $150,000 per year. packet at the District Office at 600 2nd St E in Whitefish, Monday - Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm. Whitefish Bay: Dogs, Cats, Pets Up For Adoption Nearby, Local Jobs: Check Out Who's Hiring In The Whitefish Bay Area, Dan Knodl Wins Republican Primary For State Senate Special Election. 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. 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. Our students success through our collaborative work inspires us to do even more on behalf of our students. 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. The district said that people with questions or concerns can email info@whitefishschools.org. The Missoula County Public Schools board will interview one person in its second attempt at a superintendent search this school year. The public may tune in at www.youtube.com/c/cdaschools271 to watch the sessions. Pre-Decorated Products Youth Mask Colors Pro Fit Mask Colors Neck Gaiter Colors Seamless Mask Colors Ladies Interlock Cardigan Colors Interlock 1/4 Zip Colors Unisex Jersey Long Sleeve Tee Colors Unisex LS PosiCharge Competitor Tee Colors Unisex Fan Favorite Hoodie Colors The teacher, who the district did not identify, chose to resign from his position during the course of the investigation, according to the district. Published on www.firebrickgroup.com 26 Feb 2023. 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. 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. She called the efforts a very strategic way to justify attacks on elected officials and muddle the issue.. 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. In Missoula, participants at the meeting this week also discussed gathering again to continue their plans to elect members of their parental rights movement to the school board. The Columbia Falls School Board voted to make masks optional in June. "We recognize how challenging the last 17 months have been during this global pandemic," Means said. While in Washington, he taught language arts and social studies at the middle school level and coached. Elsie Arntzen, Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction, walks into Parental Rights Education Action meeting at Crosspoint Church in Missoula on Nov. 1, 2021. Whitefish School District seeks a Principal to join one of the leading school districts in the state of Montana. 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. Terms of Use | DeVries is the director of Love Lives Here, an anti-discrimination group in the Flathead and part of the Montana Human Rights Network. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Arntzen spoke at a parental rights event in Missoula. 727 East Idaho 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.. Means is originally from Missoula and also spent time working in Bozeman and Kodiak, Alaska, in his earlier years beginning his career in education. Join to apply for the Principal (Beginning 23/24) role at WHITEFISH SCHOOL DISTRICT #44Principal (Beginning 23/24) role at WHITEFISH SCHOOL DISTRICT #44 energy as they continue to grow on this journey. For more information, please click on the link above. 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. Whitefish Bay School District is a top performing district in Wisconsin and the Midwest. 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. Privacy Policy She also has two years of experience as a dean of students and also held a Title I instruction specialist position. 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. 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 The Democratic Party of Wisconsin gave $775,000 to her . 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. Gavigan, who has served as superintendent for three years, said Whitefish Bay schools are in good hands with Myrah. 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. Team Leader, Operations Manager, General Manager, Maintenance Manager. 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. The other 22(d)2 schools are Whitefish in Paradise, Mackinac Island, DeTour, and Beaver Island. She previously served as the Executive Regional Director of the. Whitefish, MT 59937 Six. As in many communities struggling with the COVID pandemic, the situation in Whitefish has turned neighbor against neighbor, exacerbating political differences. Underly, superintendent of the Pecatonica School District in southwest Wisconsin, has the support of many left-leaning groups and unions. 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. Whitefish were everywhere--in all the lakes and on all the shores. 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. The Coeur d'Alene district has 10,000 students and 1,350. Our young musicians offer music performances for their parents and community throughout the year. 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. 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. . and Whitefish have experienced significant population growth and property inflation in recent years, more so than others . The district has 4,500 students and 650 staff. 406-755-7000. 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. 311 California Ave. 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. As a result, we deliver exceptional client experiences that require . First, a little about the history. 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. 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. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Trustee Boksich WHS Principal Drown Whitefish Public Schools mission focuses on cultivating and supporting a community . Orozco has been director of elementary education, then assistant superintendent of elementary education and instruction, since 2015. We are also looking forward to our staff and community getting a chance to meet them and share their thoughts.". 406-293-4124. 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. 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. copyright 2023 Prior to that, she served as an assistant principal in Tracy Unified School District since 2017. 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. Crossing Over with Psychic Medium John Edward Live! Both Bloom and Coyne are current Whitefish School District employees. Any questions should be directed to the administrators of this or any other specific sites. Privacy Policy Full Time position. Terms of Use | 208-664-8176. Superintendent House requested two changes to the agenda: Cancel the JMG Program - presenter is . Terms of Use | We have many resources to help our community learn more and continue our conversation about the future growth of Whitefish High School.. It really is something that Im excited about. THE COLUMBIA Falls School District is in what's known as Phase III, which makes the use of masks optional. Muldown Elementary Principal-Whitefish School District Position Vacancy Muldown Elementary Principal beginning 23/24 school year. On Aug. 31, Gov. Even outside the scope of the recall, parents in Whitefish and the Flathead have been agitating against school boards and mask mandates. While our success remains high, as I reflect on the past few years, I remain particularly proud of, how nimble and flexible we all have been. The board also made allowances for extenuating circumstances, such as a potential or actual COVID-19 outbreak. Last week, Arntzen spoke at a parental rights event in Missoula, where speakers vowed to unseat school board trustees in the upcoming election. I think its almost just people asserting their natural positions in nature, she said. Prior to that, Orozco was superintendent of Whitefish School District in Whitefish, Mont., from 2011 to 2015. 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, MONT. See the estimate, review home details, and search for homes nearby. Mission - The Whitefish School District cultivates and supports a community that engages each student to succeed in continuous learning, career, and citizenship. I fulfill my leadership role and job duties daily with great pride, integrity, and a belief in all children.. 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. wfbschools.com - Whitefish Bay Schools | An Exceptional Place to Learn 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 Public Schools mission focuses on. 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. The County Superintendent has general supervision of the public schools of the county. 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. Before becoming an administrator, Webster taught for nine years. The Whitefish School District on Friday sent out a letter to families in the district informing them of a recent investigation regarding communications between a staff member and students. The public forum for both candidates will be next Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. Each candidate will have one hour. Even outside the scope of the recall, parents in Whitefish and the Flathead have been agitating against school boards and mask mandates. 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. "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. 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. 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. The Flathead County Election officials told the Whitefish Pilotthey have never dealt with a recall before and are taking the process step by step. Of the 84, only eight have made it to ballots. Were just kind of trying to hold our ground that weve had since the beginning of time.. At parental rights events, speakers encouraged anti-mask proponents to challenge or disregard school policies they disagree with. copyright 2023 Naperville School District 203 Superintendent Dan Bridges has been named Superintendent of Distinction for DuPage County by the Illinois . She said she was upset the board did not allow for public comment during deliberation among trustees about the mask policy. Department: Technical Services. (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. Whitefish School District powered by Educational Networks 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.. Hocker received his doctorate in educational leadership from Idaho State University in 2016 and his masters degree from ISU in 1999. Manage and continually develop all safety and housekeeping efforts in the Recycled Fiber Plant and Bale Receiving Warehouse. The County Superintendent also fulfills state responsibilities for the home school population. 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. 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. The post called the mask mandate policy a power grab, by an overbearing school board. McAdam said posting home addresses of public officials is a move used by anti-government groups to intimidate public officials. 290 C North Main, Kalispell, MT 59901. Terms of Use | New Online Community Survey Open Through January 16. ", copyright 2023 Shakers Cigar Bar is Shakin' Up the Local Jazz Scene! Minutes from the August meeting also do not show any violent threats lobbed at the board. Step Two: 1. I just got really mad at that meeting, and I spent three weeks writing and researching.. 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. Hocker has been superintendent of Dickinson Public Schools since 2018. (click here for directions). Arntzen also is not the states only elected official to weigh in on the power struggle between parents and school boards. She holds a bachelors degree from California State University, in Fresno, California and a master's degree from Concordia University in Irvine, California. Elsie Arntzen, Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction, walks into Parental Rights Education Action meeting at . Help us tell stories like this one and get other great perks by joining the Editors Club for as little as $5 per month. There have been no deaths in the age group. 727 East Idaho 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. Job in Nye - MT Montana - USA , 59061. 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. 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. They have God-given rights protected by the constitution.. 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. 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. THE WHITEFISH School District's COVID-19 guidelines and procedures prioritize in-person learning and also have a layered approach to mitigation strategies within school buildings. Opens in a new tab. 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 employee unions in the district, the Whitefish Classified Employees Association and the Whitefish Education Association were also surveyed. A mom is accusing the Whitefish Bay School District of discriminating against racial minorities because it has denied her daughter special education services. So, I guess, I look at this survey in a different way. In its own way, the resource rivaled the great forest of white pine or the buffaloes on the western plains. Superintendent's Message . 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. Of the 84, only eight have made it to ballots. Fax number of the Superintendent of Schools. The Coeur d'Alene School Board will interview the candidates next Thursday and Friday. 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. 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.. How much do Whitefish Bay School District employees make? There is also a Bulldog tip line available on each school website. Libby, MT 59923 Some parents have reported their children are long haulers, experiencing serious symptoms, such as heart problems and the inability to read due to vertigo, for weeks. 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. 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. Shon is from Idaho and wants to return. She also has credentials in K-8 multiple subject teaching and K-12 administrative services.