The Columbia Falls School District, meanwhile, will make masks optional for students as the new school year begins, Superintendent Dave Wick said in a recent letter to parents. Apply Join or sign in to find your next job. The Trustees of Whitefish School District No. Gifted and Talented. Whitefish Public Schools mission focuses on. Fulfills other responsibilities as assigned by the Superintendent. Elsie Arntzen, Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction, walks into Parental Rights Education Action meeting at Crosspoint Church in Missoula on Nov. 1, 2021. The County Superintendent has general supervision of the public schools of the county. 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. . 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. I did it all by myself, she said. The main entrance to the new Muldown Elementary School building. "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. Myrah said she looks forward to the new responsibilities of the position. In a survey of Whitefish families, more than half of the 832 responses favored a mask-optional policy. 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. 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. 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. Any questions should be directed to the administrators of this or any other specific sites. His experience and professional knowledge has enabled him to navigate the changing landscape in a manner that continues to strengthen this district., Means got his start in education by driving school buses while attending the University of Montana because he, enjoyed working with the kids It was just neat to create relationships with kids.. Short biographies of each candidate were included in Means email, which was sent out prior to the interviews. 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. 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. Location: Green Bay. 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. Both Bloom and Coyne are current Whitefish School District employees. 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.. "She also leads with balance and integrity, addressing issues with sensitivity, tact, and skill, while respecting differing points of view.. Whitefish School District [[upButtonMessage]] full time. 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. Join or sign in to find your next job. "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. 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. She previously served as the Executive Regional Director of the. Heather Davis Schmidt will fulfill remainder of school year, search committee to seek replacement. 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.. 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 Of the 84, only eight have made it to ballots. DeVries is the director of Love Lives Here, an anti-discrimination group in the Flathead and part of the Montana Human Rights Network. WHITEFISH, MONT. Dr. Hocker has been Superintendent of Dickinson Public Schools since 2018. 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. 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. Manage and continually develop all safety and housekeeping efforts in the Recycled Fiber Plant and Bale Receiving Warehouse. Shon is from Idaho and wants to return. On Aug. 31, Gov. 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. Privacy Policy Masks also will be optional but strongly encouraged at Kalispell Public Schools, following a decision by that district's board earlier this week. Nonetheless, across the country, similar efforts have been growing. 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. 1470 & 1490 Garay Ln #1490-01, Pt Washington, WI 53074 is a 790 sqft, 2 bed, 1 bath home. Whitefish schools will require masks on public transportation, such as school and activity buses, as required by federal law. 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. Laura Myrah is a strong leader with a vision of education that complements the districts beliefs and strategic direction," she said. And when the government moves against it, I would say the government is the one with the movement, not us. Six candidates were interviewed April 1 and 2, including Drea Beale, Lisa Bloom, John Coyne, Henry Mack, Catey Nasello and Sharon Webster. Administrative/Clerical. 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. Full Time position. 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. 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. As a result, we deliver exceptional client experiences that require . All critical information should be independently verified. Website Disclaimer. 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 board also made allowances for extenuating circumstances, such as a potential or actual COVID-19 outbreak. 215 N. 2nd St. 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. 56 were here. State epidemiologists would later say the move by the governors officespread misinformation. 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. Join to apply for the Principal (Beginning 23/24) role at WHITEFISH SCHOOL DISTRICT #44Principal (Beginning 23/24) role at WHITEFISH SCHOOL DISTRICT #44 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. she said. Her administrative experience also includes serving as principal of a public charter high school in Oakland, California. Additionally, he obtained a Master of Arts in educational leadership with an endorsement in administration before moving back to Montana. 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.. copyright 2023 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. Arntzen also is not the states only elected official to weigh in on the power struggle between parents and school boards. This honor continues to speak to our staff, administration, and the students of Whitefish High School and our entire district. Under Montana law, a separate recall petition is required for each trustee. Superintendent's Message Staff . She also has served as the Whitefish Education Association president for the past two years. Crossing Over with Psychic Medium John Edward Live! Privacy Policy "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. We have a new location in the Flathead County North Complex. Members Present: Chairperson Pat Jarvi, Dave Fern, Brian McDowell, Eric Hosek, and Ruth Harrison. Elsie Arntzen, Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction, walks into Parental Rights Education Action meeting at . Current. The board of trustees has established a search committee to plan and organize the process of hiring her replacement. 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. I fulfill my leadership role and job duties daily with great pride, integrity, and a belief in all children.. Fax number of the Superintendent of Schools. Superintendent's Message . The other 22(d)2 schools are Whitefish in Paradise, Mackinac Island, DeTour, and Beaver Island. District 203 superintendent honored by state association. 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. The district said that people with questions or concerns can email info@whitefishschools.org. Whitefish Bay School District is a top performing district in Wisconsin and the Midwest. 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. 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. Muldown Elementary School is named after former Whitefish Schools Superintendent, ski pioneer, and prominent community member, Lloyd "Mully" Muldown. 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. 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 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. 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.