School issues face voters today

Polls will be open across the Flathead Valley for school elections today.

Voters in Creston, Helena Flats and Whitefish have levy issues to decide.

Trustee elections are happening in Columbia Falls, Smith Valley and Whitefish, plus voters in Marion, Olney-Bissell, Pleasant Valley, Smith Valley and West Valley must choose a representative for Kalispell Public Schools' high school board.

Voters in every district have choices for candidates running for the Flathead Valley Community College's board of trustees. There is one three-year term and one two-year seat open in the Kalispell high school district, and two three-year terms on the ballot for voters in the Bigfork, Columbia Falls and Whitefish high school districts.

All polls close at 8 p.m. today, but their opening times vary. For a complete listing of polling places and times, go to www.dailyinterlake.com.

The Creston School District is requesting a $50,000 building reserve levy. The tax would give Creston School $10,000 a year for five years.

Helena Flats School is asking voters for a $66,652 general fund levy.

The Whitefish School District is requesting approval of a $174,600 elementary levy and a $97,000 high school levy.

Following is a summary of school trustee races:

FVCC

Nine candidates are seeking four Flathead Valley Community College Board of Trustee positions.

Incumbent Robert Nystuen is the only candidate for the three-year term representing the Flathead/Glacier High School District.

Three candidates - Tim Baldwin, Michael Hebert and incumbent Shannon Lund - seek the two years left in the term of the other Flathead/Glacier High School District position.

The two open positions representing the Bigfork, Columbia Falls and Whitefish high school districts attracted five candidates: incumbents Tom Harding and John Phelps and challengers Ed Berry, Roland Horst and Glenn Wehe.

Columbia Falls

There are six candidates for three open positions on the Columbia Falls school board. All are running for full, three-year terms.

The candidates include incumbents Dean Chisholm, Scott Emmerich and Darrell Newby and newcomers Dee Brown, Jenny Draband and Lyle Mitchell.

Kalispell

There are two candidates for a three-year seat on Kalispell Public Schools' board of trustees.

Tom Clark is the incumbent and Greg Harris the challenger in a race for a full term.

The winner will represent the West Valley, Smith Valley, Pleasant Valley, Marion and Olney-Bissell districts on Kalispell's high school board.

Smith Valley

Two candidates are vying for one open three-year seat on the Smith Valley school board.

Christy Berry is the incumbent, but her challenger, Bob Sutton, also has school board experience.

Whitefish

There are three three-year seats up for grabs on the Whitefish school board and four candidates in the running for those positions.

Dave Fern is the only incumbent on the ballot. Heather Vrentas, Tagen Vine and Shawn Watts are newcomers hoping to secure a full term as a trustee.