School board trustees approve new superintendent's contract

The contract for new Whitefish School District Superintendent Heather Davis Schmidt was approved by school board trustees Thursday.

Trustees approved a two-year contract with six “yes” votes and trustee Marguerite Kaminski abstaining.

Davis Schmidt will be paid a first-year salary of $120,000, not including benefits. Her contract begins July 1.

Other benefits include $2,500 for moving expenses.

Davis Schmidt was expected to sign the contract Friday. She will succeed departing Superintendent Kate Orozco.

Davis Schmidt will complete the school year as executive regional director for Region 2 of Missoula County Public Schools.

Prior to that position, she was director of curriculum and Title 1 in Missoula from 2010 to 2011. In 2012, she was named Montana School Administrator of the Year by the Montana School Counselor Association.

Davis Schmidt holds a doctorate in education curriculum and instruction from the University of Montana.

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