Kalispell Public Schools to interview interim superintendent candidates

Kalispell Public Schools Board of Trustees unanimously selected three candidates to interview for the interim superintendent position on Tuesday.

The candidates are: current district Assistant Superintendent Matt Jensen; Randy Cline, who retired from his previous position as superintendent of Frenchtown School District; and Capital High School Principal Brett Zanto of Helena Public Schools.

A meet-and-greet with the candidates is tentatively scheduled for 4 p.m. on Monday, May 8 with interviews starting at 5:15 p.m.

“It will be a long process and we will make our decision that night,” said board Chair Sue Corrigan.

The board decided to seek an interim superintendent for the 2023-24 school year at an April 18 meeting after opting against interviewing any of the five applicants who responded to its initial job posting for the permanent position.

The board launched its search with the news that Missoula County Public Schools had selected Superintendent Micah Hill to lead its district. Hill, a longtime administrator, stepped into the role of Kalispell Public Schools superintendent in 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hill previously served as principal and assistant principal at Glacier High School. He also held positions as a dean of students and activities director, and as an English teacher.

Rebecca Linden voiced confidence in the change of direction. Bringing on an interim schools chief, would provide “maximum flexibility when it comes time to choose another school superintendent,” she said.

“I really think that we did a good thing,” Linden said

Trustee Ursula Wilde agreed.

“I think we’re very fortunate to have three, what seems like, very highly qualified candidates,” Wilde said.

Corrigan also spoke about the applicants who responded to the interim position based on feedback received by community members and staff.

“I know when we identified some skills that we wanted to see in a superintendent; it’s nice to see we have candidates that have those exact skills we’re looking for,” she said.

Corrigan said the next decision is deciding how to configure the duties and responsibilities of the interim superintendent — whether one person will take it all on, or if it will be divided up, for example, to “make use of those good skill sets.”

“We do have three very different candidates right now,” she said.

“I’m glad we did this,” Trustee Jennifer Sevier said.

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