Howling about the Wolfpack

With a nod to political correctness, school board delays mascot decision

The Kalispell school board split on the Wolfpack as mascot Tuesday and postponed a vote on the grade configuration to launch Glacier High School.

Board Chairman Don Murray's description of the wolf reflected the diversity of opinion on the school board.

"It's revered and it's reviled," he said. "It's a unique animal."

After the tie vote, the board referred the matter back to the selection committee.

Trustee Mark Lalum said he wasn't sure the committee of students, administrators and parents understood the ramifications of their choice.

"Wolves were eradicated from this area for a reason," he said. "They had a devastating impact on livestock."

Superintendent Darlene Schottle had recommended that the board adopt the Wolfpack mascot after a month spent taking community comments.

She acknowledged some concern from residents but said the committee had followed "an appropriate process" in arriving at its choice.

Dewey Michaels, a parent on the committee, told the board that the group had taken its task seriously. He said the Wolfpack was tangible and fit the criteria outlined by the board for the image of Glacier High School.

Michaels said the committee rallied behind the Wolfpack with its potential for such catchy slogans as "Back the pack."

"It was hands-down, no question about it - it wasn't even a close vote," Michaels said. "It was a no-brainer for us."

However, several board members said the Wolfpack choice ignored their criteria that the mascot reflect sensitivity to political implications.

Trustee Eve Dixon saw a lot of controversy associated with the Wolfpack. Another trustee, Anna Marie Bailey, said she had changed her support for the mascot after community feedback on the name since the last meeting.

"It was also a Nazi group," she said.

In World War II, small groups of German U-boats were known as wolf packs because of their methods of shadowing, surrounding and attacking allied convoys.

Because of the split vote, the board advised Michaels that the committee wasn't precluded from again recommending the Wolfpack if further deliberation didn't alter its choice.

Murray pointed out that the board would face criticism no matter what mascot it selects for the new high school. But he added that none of the members wants to erode community support.

"The reason we're deliberating so much is that we care about our stakeholders," Murray said.

The school board also deliberated at length the superintendent's recommendation that Glacier High School open with grades nine through 11. The plan avoids splitting the class of 2008 during its senior year.

Schottle said her research revealed that new schools need enough students to maintain core staffs and curriculum flexibility. She said no configuration works better than another if a critical mass of students exists.

However, moving students just prior to the senior year caused problems at some schools.

"The 12th-graders didn't have the buy-in to provide leadership," she said.

Schottle's recommendation was for a ninth-to-11th-grade configuration while giving students the ability to use the district's transfer policy between the two high schools.

Trustee Mary Ruby immediately moved to postpone the decision, pending a work session to hash out such concerns as the transfer policy details. She said she had asked specifically for such a session before a vote.

However, Schottle said she placed the decision on the agenda to avoid more delay in curriculum decisions. At the board's November meeting, Activities Director Mark Dennehy said he faced deadlines for scheduling AA games for the 2007 school year.

Some trustees expressed concern that a ninth-through-11th grade configuration puts some students through five school changes during their academic careers. Others on the board said trustees were making too much of the emotional damage to students.

"The kids are going to get over whatever decision we make," Trustee Tony Dawson said.

He said he agreed with Ruby that achieving academic excellence for students should guide the board's decision.

Murray said it was sometimes a disservice to remove every hurdle for students rather allowing them to learn to adjust.

"We're making them go to a wonderful facility," he said with a laugh. "They'll get over it. They'll survive it."

Although making a single ninth-through-12th transition appeared to be the most-efficient approach to some, several trustees said that would violate a pledge given at public meetings prior to the high school bond election.

"I remember telling parents we would not split up the senior class," Dixon said.

The board was on the verge of a vote when Lalum said that parliamentary procedure precluded a second vote on the same configuration if the board rejected the ninth-through-11th grade configuration.

Trustees voted 5-4 to postpone the decision, pending a work session. The board scheduled the session at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the conference room at Flathead High School, 644 Fourth Ave. W., in Kalispell.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.