School district reviews state accreditation status

Kalispell Public Schools has met accreditation standards at all schools in student performance; however, in assurance standards, Kalispell Middle School was noted for two minor deviations.

The district encompasses five elementary schools, one middle school, two high schools and an alternative high school.

The deviations at Kalispell Middle School fell under teaching assignment and class-size rules. In regard to teaching assignments, the middle school had a foreign languages teacher endorsed in French, teaching a Spanish elective. Although versed in Spanish, the teacher was not endorsed in the specific language, but is willing to do so to meet the assurance standard according to district Assistant Super-intendent Andrea Johnson.

This is the second year the school has deviated in regard to class-size standards, according to the Office of Public Instruction’s Accreditation Status Report. A section of sixth-grade P.E. is one student over accreditation standards with a total of 31 students according to Johnson.

“Knowing that we really make an extreme effort in core subjects not to get class sizes over 30 ­— a place we thought we could go up to 31 was P.E.,” Johnson said.

Kalispell Middle School has a total enrollment of about 1,040 students.

The middle school received an “advice” designation in its final accreditation status. The advice designation gives schools time to correct any issues before reaching “deficient” status. Kalispell Middle School must complete a corrective plan to the state by June 1.

District Superintendent Mark Flatau said he was encouraged that every school met performance standards and that the deviations were easily correctable.

“For a district our size, having that small of an issue in a building its size is very good,” Flatau said.

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