Latest news with #KalispellPublicSchools
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Kalispell Public Schools fills human resources, principal positions at two high schools and elementary schools
May 16—Kalispell Public Schools has named a new district human resources director and filled principal positions at Glacier and Flathead high schools and Elrod and Peterson Elementary schools. Carie Brady has been selected as the new school district human resources director. Brady joins the central office from her current position as human resources and finance manager of Greater Valley Health Center in Kalispell. Brady holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Administration from the University of Phoenix, where she also earned a health management certificate, according to the school district. She replaces Liz English, who returns to her previous position as principal and superintendent of Kila School. The district received 14 applications for the position. An 11-member search committee granted interviews to four candidates, two of whom went through the interviewing process. Glacier High School social studies and English teacher and head softball coach, Abby Snipes, has been promoted to school activities director and assistant principal. She holds a Master of Educational Leadership from the University of Montana. She replaces outgoing activities director Mark Dennehy who is retiring, effective Sept. 30, after 33 years with the district. The hiring process, which started in March, involved an eight-member search committee that screened 12 applications for the position. Four people were interviewed for the position. The district has also promoted current staff to principal positions at Elrod Elementary and Peterson Elementary schools. Linzi Napier will head Elrod, moving from her assistant principal at Flathead High School, which will be filled by Flathead social studies teacher Christina Roberts. Napier replaces Elrod principal Jeff Hornby, who retires at the end of the school year after 21 years with the district. Peterson Instructional Coach, Shay LaCasse, has lead Peterson, replacing principal Tracy Ketchum, who is also retiring, after 11 years with the district. Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
School election ballots due by May 6
May 3—Voters are reminded to turn in ballots for school elections. Ballots must be received by the Flathead County Election Department, 290 B N. Main St., Kalispell, by 8 p.m. May 6. Depending on what school district boundaries a voter resides in will determine what issues they vote on. Deer Park School District is seeking approval of a $4 million bond issue to relocate/demolish an old teacherage that houses the main office in addition to the attached Quonset hut that holds music, art and Title I classes. A new school building with a main level and basement level would be constructed in its place. The main level of the proposed building will be roughly 6,670 square feet, encompassing four classrooms, a boy's and a girl's bathroom, lockers, a conference room, janitor's room and storage space. A secure vestibule would lead to a waiting room and new main office and administrative offices. The basement level will house a mechanical room, pump room, crawl space and storage space. If the 25-year, $4 million bond issue is approved, the owner of a home with an assessed value of $200,000 can anticipate annual taxes to increase by about $162.25. Owners of homes with assessed values of $300,000 can expect annual taxes to increase by $243.37. Deer Park will also hold a school board trustee election to fill one position with a three-year term. Candidates are Cynthia Barnes and Mikala Cordes. Kalispell Public Schools is looking to pass a $2.97 million general fund levy for the high school district to cover a budget shortfall and fully fund the high school district, which encompasses Flathead and Glacier high schools, the H.E. Robinson Agricultural Center and Linderman Education Center, the alternative high school. The high school district is currently 90% funded, according to officials. The general fund is the main budget that covers costs related to operating schools, such as salaries, instructional materials, technology, student support services, utilities, maintenance and extracurriculars not covered by the student activities fund, for example. The high school district includes voters in Kalispell and 13 partner school districts whose students go on to attend Flathead and Glacier high schools. If the $2.97 million levy is approved, owners of homes with assessed values of $200,000 can anticipate annual taxes to increase by about $33.04. Owners of homes with assessed values of $300,000 can expect annual taxes to increase by $49.56. If the levy fails, Kalispell Public Schools will formulate a plan to phase out some programs along with eliminating up to 20.5 full-time equivalent positions, primarily through attrition. This year, Kalispell Public Schools offered a retirement incentive to proactively begin the process. Kalispell Superintendent Matt Jensen said the district will start formulating a plan to phase out programs after high school enrollment for the 2025-26 school year is completed. Which classes, class sections or programs to phase out will be based on registration/participation numbers. "We are still in the process of enrolling students, so we have an incomplete picture of the specific courses that will be reduced or eliminated," Jensen stated in an April 23 email to the Daily Inter Lake. The academic programs and activities Kalispell Public Schools has stated are at stake includes the Vo-ag center and FFA; athletics/teams; trades classes such as culinary, welding, mechanic shop and house construction courses; internships and apprenticeships; and activities such as speech and debate, art, theater and music. Cayuse Prairie School is holding a trustee election to fill one seat with a three-year term. Candidates are David Dowell and Susan Horner-Till. Smith Valley School is holding a trustee election for two open seats with three-year terms. Candidates are Jodi Brown, Joe Heidecker, Kyla Huchendorf and Josh Hunt. Cayuse Prairie, Deer Park and Smith Valley are among the 13 partner school districts that will vote on Kalispell Public Schools' high school district general fund levy. Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kalispell Public Schools offers new scholarship program for employees
Mar. 7—Kalispell Public Schools has launched Empowering Educators, a competitive scholarship program to help employees transition into teaching or obtain needed endorsements for hard-to-fill positions, particularly in special education. The new competitive scholarship program will prioritize employees affected by job cuts. "With all of the shifting there are going to continue to be some open positions that are going to be challenging [to fill] ... . We do recognize that one of the best ways to be able to fill these shortages is investing in the people that we already have," district Special Services Director Chamea Bennett said in a Feb. 25 presentation to the school board. Certified and classified employees working part- or full-time may apply. The district will reimburse recipients up to $5,250 annually for a maximum of four years, to further their education or teaching qualifications. Recipients must continue working for the district while receiving scholarship money. Scholarship pathways include earning a bachelor's or master's degree that leads to a Montana teaching license or obtaining endorsements to teach specific subjects, grade levels, or student populations. The endorsements will be key Bennett said, when reassigning employees to different positions. "People will be able to fill one of those positions that they might not be qualified for at this moment," Bennett said. The Empowering Educators scholarship program will be paid for through the Adult Education fund. This budgeted fund contains money from a permissive levy. The Kalispell program is based off a Bozeman program called Transition to Teaching. "I think this is a wonderful idea," school board trustee Linda Kaps said. For more information, or to apply, email bennettc@ or call the Special Services Department at 751-3400 extension 3408. Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@
