Board votes to stay in state coalition

Kalispell Public Schools trustees unanimously voted Tuesday to continue membership in the Montana Quality Education Coalition and pay $4,000 in dues.

The coalition of school districts works to maintain adequate school funding. Kalispell has been a member for approximately eight years.

The district recently benefited from a lawsuit settlement with the state for not funding inflationary increases and received $108,619 for the high school district and $126,871 for the elementary district. The district would have received the money whether or not it was a coalition member.

Before a vote was taken, there was discussion on how much representation the coalition provided for school districts on the west side of the state, but it was agreed to continue membership and see how valuable it proved to be during the next legislative session.

The board also voted to renew membership in the Montana School Board Association, paying $15,730 in dues. The association provides education and insurance services. The unemployment service alone saves the district about $141,000, according to Business Clerk Gwyn Andersen.

In other business at Tuesday’s meeting, the board:

v Reorganized with Thomas Clark as board chairman and Frank Miller as vice chairman.

v Seated three new trustees: Joe Brenneman (high school district) and Don Murray and Dave Schultz in the elementary district.

This is the first time Brenneman, a former Flathead County commissioner, has served on a school board.

“I think education is terribly important and it’s our duty to support education,” Brenneman said.

Murray is quite familiar with Kalispell Public Schools, having previously served as a trustee for more than a decade. With two children attending school in the district, Schultz was interested in serving on the board.

v Welcomed Tryg Johnson as principal and Jeff Hornby as assistant principal at Kalispell Middle School. Johnson moves up from the KMS assistant principal position.

Hornby is shifting from his job as Elrod Elementary School principal.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.