Committee to suggest new school administrator

The Daily Inter Lake

A hiring committee will recommend a new administrator for the Helena Flats School District at a special school board meeting Tuesday.

The committee interviewed four candidates earlier this month for the position of superintendent with some principal duties. Two candidates are from the Flathead Valley, one is from Missoula and one comes from Minnesota.

District Clerk Tonnie Decker, a member of the hiring committee, declined Friday to name the candidates before Tuesday's meeting, which is at 7 p.m. at the school.

Whomever the board chooses will replace Paul Jenkins, whose contract expires June 30. The board of trustees voted in January not to renew Jenkins' contract.

The decision stunned many in the Helena Flats community and resulted in several well-attended school board meetings when community members asked trustees to reverse - or at least explain - the decision.

Board members have been largely silent on the subject, citing Jenkins' right to privacy, but board chairman Erik Wenum said that Jenkins' dismissal was at least partially the result of three consecutive subpar superintendent evaluations.

About 20 people applied for the position, Decker said. The school board will make the final hiring decision.