Meet the trustee candidates running in Cayuse Prairie
The Daily Inter Lake reached out to school board trustee candidates in contested elections. The information below was provided by candidates for Cayuse Prairie School District No. 10 and edited for spelling, punctuation and space.
Cayuse Prairie School District has two openings for three-year terms on the board. Candidates are: Tyler Hash, Kyle Heinecke and Peter Kirmer.
Tyler Hash
Occupation: Stay-at-home dad and U.S. Army Reservist.
Family: Rosemary Hash; Aldo Hash, 3, and Oren Hash, 1.
Education: Bachelor of Science at the U.S. Military Academy.
Background: Twelve years in the military between the Montana National Guard, active duty, Army Reserves and assistant professor of military science at the Washington State University ROTC program.
Why do you want to serve as a trustee? I highly value the role and potential of public education in our kids’ lives. I believe an involved community that engages with the school system in a non-partisan way can enhance our children’s learning. I’ve enjoyed being a stay-at-home dad with my kids and being present to give them opportunities for learning and growth. I hope to be able to actively contribute to the broader education in our community in a more structural way as a member of the Cayuse Prairie School Board.
Kyle Heinecke
Occupation: Pastor.
Family: Jessica Heinecke; Tyen, 16, Rosalie, 9, Charlotte, 8, and Iver, 7.
Education: Christian studies at Macquarie Institute of Theology, 2004; School of Life ongoing student.
Background: Fifth-generation native of Kalispell; church leader, over 10 years; fundraising officer, Union Gospel Mission; devoted husband and father.
Why do you want to serve as a trustee? As a fifth-generation native of Kalispell, protecting and preserving our community’s values are of utmost importance to me. My wife and children spent the previous five years in Portland, Oregon, and we witnessed firsthand what happens when accountability and ethics are no longer a priority in schools. Schools do not own your children, they serve them and they serve a purpose in our community. However, they should not be a place where personal ideologies or preferences have a platform. Nothing is more important than our future, we must hold educators and school administrators to that standard.
Peter Kirmer
Occupation: Not currently working but previously a head of compliance and licensed certified public accountant at Microsoft Corporation for over 18 years.
Family: Dr. Rhian Young; Sophia, 21, Brandon, 17, Madison, 14, and Dylan, 8.
Education: University of Colorado, Bachelor of Science and Accounting.
Background: Treasurer of Kalispell Pee Wee Baseball; basketball and football coach for Kalispell Parks and Recs.
Why do you want to serve as a trustee? Having our youngest of four kids as a current second-grader, I want to make a difference in my child’s education for the duration of his school career in the valley. I feel it is important for parents to have a voice on behalf of the children and I am finally in a place in my life where I can fulfill that dream and serve the community.