Several districts have contested school board elections
[Editor's note: This is the second part of a two-part story about school elections in Flathead County. Mail ballots are due May 5.]
Fair-Mont-Egan
About 911 ballots have been mailed. Three candidates are vying for two open seats on the board.
• Mark Siderius (incumbent)
Occupation: Owner of Mark Siderius Construction and Excavation, LLC, and Siderius Family Farm, LLC, in the Fair-Mont-Egan area.
Family: Married to Heather Siderius; four children, Zachary, Grayce, Lauryn and Beau.
Education: Diesel mechanics degree, Montana State University — Northern and Flathead High School graduate.
Background: Served the community on the Flathead Conservation District board for many years, the Flathead River Commission board, the Farm Service Agency county committee and the Montana Noxious Weed Free Forage Advisory counsel.
Why do I want to serve? As a graduate of Fair-Mont-Egan School and lifelong community member I feel it’s an easy way to give back to my community and to represent our students and taxpayers.
• Jennifer Stebbins (incumbent)
Occupation: Mental health therapist, most recently at Summit Preparatory School; in the process of opening a private practice, Jennifer Stebbins Counseling, LLC; Flathead High School theater director.
Family: Three children, Ella, Jonathan and Keenan.
Education: Master of Arts in Counseling, Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary; Bachelor of Arts, University of Washington.
Background: Served on the Fair-Mont-Egan board for the last four years.
Why are you running? There have been some challenges along the way but I am proud of the present leadership and direction the school is taking. I care deeply about Fair-Mont-Egan and am proud that my children are the fourth generation of my family to attend this school.
• Lara Zimmerman
Occupation: Stay-at-home parent, previously an insurance adjuster.
Family: Husband Nolan; two children, ages 12 and 14.
Education: Washington State University.
Background: International Shotokan Karate Federation Montana board treasurer, Fair-Mont-Egan School volunteer, and active participant of the Fair-Mont-Egan PTF for the past nine years.
Why are you running? To be the voice of our community and children.
Kalispell Public Schools
Approximately 16,000 ballots will be mailed to active, registered voters. There are four candidates vying for two open seats representing the elementary district. Ballots may returned via mail, which is the preferred method, due to the coronavirus concerns. The district central office will be open from 10 a.m. to noon each day to receive ballots. A properly manned drive-thru option will be set up in the parking lot of the central office from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day, May 5.
• Cole Dykhuizen
Occupation: Self-Employed
Education: Flathead High School graduate; currently attending Flathead Valley Community College in pursuit of a Master of Business Administration.
Background: Montana Honors Scholar; graduated summa cum laude from Flathead High school in 2019; former member of Kalispell FFA, serving as treasurer for two years; as part of FFA, became an accredited parliamentarian, earning the 2019 Montana Star in Agribusiness, which recognizes his accomplishments as a business owner; placed second in the nation in the FFA’s farm and agribusiness management event in Indianapolis; on the FVCC Dean’s List.
Why are you running? I want to serve as a trustee because as the youngest member of the board, I bring a unique and fresh perspective of school district five that we can use to serve the students of the Flathead Valley better.
• Diane Morton Stout (incumbent)
Occupation: Kalispell Chamber of Commerce Leadership Flathead program manager.
Family: Husband Blake Stout; four sons Zach Stout, currently stationed in Virginia with the Air Force; Xander and Xavier Stout, who attend Glacier High School; and Zaden Stout, who attends Kalispell Middle School.
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Arts in Teaching, Willamette University; completed coursework in the University of Montana Educational Leadership doctoral program.
Background: Current member of the school board IT, policy and finance committees; member of Flathead Valley Community College Foundation board with various leadership roles; member of church committees and involvement with kids’ school activities.
Why are you running? A trustee’s role is to be a representative of our voters while always acting in the best interest of our school district. I can’t speak highly enough of School District 5’s outstanding educational system, and welcome the chance to advocate for the priorities and values of our community during a second term.
• Scott Warnell
Occupation: Retired from the Kalispell Police Department.
Family: Wife Jana Warnell, who grew up in Kalispell; two sons, Carter and Max.
Education: Graduate of Aloha High School in Oregon; sports medicine degree, Montana State University
Background: Former DARE officer, school resource officer and was previously in charge of the Community Volunteer Program; retired as captain of detectives in 2016 and went on the work at CPS for three years before resigning from that job last spring; was a Big Brother through the Big Brothers and Sisters program; volunteered as a soccer coach for Flathead Force soccer club (now Flathead United), serving on that board from 2009-2012 and was president from 2010-2012; on the Flathead CARE board from 1998-2018 and was president of that board for about five years; Flathead High School girl’s varsity soccer coach from 2004-2012.
Why do I want to run? I have been involved with Kalispell School District in some capacity since I moved here in 1994. My sons received a wonderful education through School District 5 starting at Peterson with both of them graduating from Flathead High School. I love the way School District 5 supports and is supported by the community of Kalispell and I want to be involved in guiding that relationship to even greater heights.
• Kim A. Wilson
Occupation: Retired, from previous position as an office manager with 10 years in adult education, and three years in a high school.
Family: Widow; two adult children and three grandchildren. Two grandchildren attend Edgerton Elementary.
Education: Associate of Science and certification from the Human Services Department for Family Services.
Background: PTA member; started the program for “Harmony the Self-Esteem Bear,” and classroom volunteer.
Reason: Having been involved in education for many years on a personal level through volunteering in classrooms, fundraisers, and graduation — plus also as a dedicated school employee for 13 years — I understand the importance of working together as a team on issues you care about, which for me has always been education for children.
Marion
There are 981 ballots that will be mailed to active, registered voters. There is a one-year and a three-year term open on the school board.
Running for the one-year term:
• Laurianne Stewart
Occupation: Recently retired from working as a technical applications consultant for a global health-care company for the past 25 years.
Family: Husband Paul Stewart; two children, a fifth- and third-grader who both attend Marion School.
Education: Graduated from Weber State University with a major in medical technology and a minor in history and music.
Background: Resident of Marion for 10 years; previously served on the board of directors for two nonprofit organizations dealing with animals and was a former school board member for a private elementary school in Salt Lake City.
Why are you running? I want to be a trustee for the Marion School because I believe this school could do better. I believe the role of a school board is to ensure that the school is responsive to its students’ education.
• Annie Westphal (incumbent)
Occupation: GIS Data Specialist with Flathead Electric Cooperative.
Family: Husband Jesse Westphal; stepchildren Lenee and Judah Westphal.
Education: Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education; Associate of Science in Natural Resource Conservation.
Background: Appointed to school board last June and learned a great deal; attended the Boardsmanship Leadership Academy at Flathead Valley Community College, which highlighted the value and scope of school board duties; traveled around the U.S. and to other countries; served in the military; and served countless hours in EBD (emotional and behavioral disorders), special education and pre-K through 12th-grade classrooms.
Why are you running? I have enjoyed serving on the Marion School Board for the past year, particularly discovering the depth of dedication my fellow trustees, school staff and leadership have for making our students’ lives better. I would very much like to continue striving together as servant leaders to make positive decisions for our students, school and community.
Running for the three-year term:
• Cherie Stobie (incumbent)
Occupation: K-12 curriculum director.
Family: Husband John Stobie; three children Amanda (Stobie) Carlsson, 24, Katherine Stobie, 21 and Dominic Stobie, 19.
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, Carroll College; Master of Education in Educational Leadership, University of Montana
Background: Spent 26 years as an educator, including five years as the principal of Marion School; Best Beginnings Council memberl; participated in the Boardsmanship Leadership Academy.
Why are you running? With my background and experience, I have been able to provide support and insight into the board’s processes. I would like to continue to help the school achieve its goals for the ultimate success of our students and community.
• Nicole Michelle Thiessen
Occupation: Court clerk.
Family: Boyfriend Michael Voss; daughter Vanessa Thiessen; son Cecil Voss.
Education: Some college in business management at Purdue University.
Why are you running? I want to serve to be more involved in the school and what is happening within my district. To work together and grow the school district.