Helena Flats superintendent back in building for new school year after court case concludes

Helena Flats Superintendent Andy Maheras is back in the school building full-time after facing charges of assaulting a student last year. 

Maheras had worked remotely since December 2023 while awaiting the outcome of a then-pending criminal case in Flathead County Justice Court. That same month, he pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor counts of assault following a reported confrontation with a 12-year-old student on Aug. 31, 2023.

He later struck a deal with prosecutors that saw him plead no contest to an amended charge of corporal punishment on July 25. A no contest plea allows a defendant to avoid admitting guilt while acknowledging there is sufficient evidence to result in a guilty verdict. 

Maheras received a six-month deferred sentence and a $285 fine following his change of plea. A deferred sentence means that Maheras will avoid jail time, and the case will be dismissed if he abides by the law and pays the fee. 

The Helena Flats School Board voted unanimously for his return at an Aug. 20 meeting after fielding questions, concerns and criticism from parents and community members.  

“If we thought there was a true safety concern that would be ongoing, or risk there, without a doubt, we would have terminated [Maheras],” said board Chair Kevin Fritz. 

Maheras read a prepared statement before the board’s vote. 

“I would like to recognize the challenges faced by the school over the past year and want to thank the Helena Flats community, school board and staff for their support and understanding,” he said, then outlined what the plea agreement entailed. 

When the Daily Inter Lake asked Maheras for comment on the outcome of his case and his return to Helena Flats on Aug. 21, Maheras emailed a letter sent to families of students in the district. The school year for the district began Wednesday. 

“I recognize that the past year presented us with significant challenges, and I want to commend the resilience and determination our community has demonstrated. We have navigated these difficulties together, and as we move forward, I am committed to making this school year one of growth, positivity, and renewed energy,” the letter read. 

AN INTERNAL investigation conducted by Kaleva Law Office, which represents the district, in October concluded that Maheras violated school policy with a “preponderance of evidence.”   

“Although holding the student by the arms or shoulder to maintain orderly conduct in the hallway may constitute permissible restraint under the Montana law, hurting a student by grabbing him by the face is not proper restraint but, instead, satisfies the definition of corporal punishment, which is prohibited by Policy 3310,” the report stated.  

After the board was presented with the report, the then-school board chair issued a letter of reprimand to Maheras dated Nov. 16, 2023.  

“The initial encounter and your response to the student was appropriate, but the escalation was not,” read the letter, written by Jessica Dyer. “Andy, I cannot impress upon you enough how important it is to maintain composure and professionalism in your capacity as a school employee. This letter will serve as a reprimand for your failure to demonstrate professionalism in the work environment.”  

The letter indicated he would receive an improvement plan for the rest of the 2023-24 school year.  

According to court documents filed in Flathead County Justice Court last year, the alleged assault occurred when Maheras attempted to discipline a 12-year-old boy, accusing him and a girl of kissing in a hallway.  

During the confrontation, Maheras allegedly grabbed the student’s arms, shoulder and face and pushed him against a locker. Maheras had allegedly grabbed the student’s chin, “Like if you were squeezing a stress ball,” the student said in a forensic interview with investigators, turning it toward him.  

The student reported feeling his neck pop while he turned his face and said that it hurt, according to court documents.  

A portion of the Aug. 31 incident was recorded on a security camera, court documents said. On Sept. 25, 2023, Maheras messaged the school resource officer and Flathead County Sheriff's Office Deputy Geno Cook asking if he could stop by to discuss the confrontation. Flathead County Sheriff’s Office Detective Michael Carey was assigned to investigate the case Oct. 10, 2023.  

MAHERAS’ STATEMENT at the Aug. 20 school board meeting was met with criticism from attendees for not including an apology. Those in attendance also pressed the board on how student discipline would be handled in the K-8 school and asked how administrators planned to prevent confrontations.  

“I’ve taken and completed a conflict resolution course and done some reading with regard to handling behavior in a different approach,” Maheras said. 

Community member and parent of two former Helena Flats students Brian Ek asked what the school has done to help students affected by the alleged assault. 

“A lot of kids saw this and every child’s been talking about it. What steps have the administration and school taken to reach out and then also to ensure that this would never happen again?” Ek asked. 

“The administrator at the time reached out to a lot of those kids and parents and talked to them,” Fritz replied. “We had the counselor go talk to some of the kids that we know were directly involved.” 

Former principal Allison Hawes resigned in March in the wake of the alleged assault, leaving a vacancy that officials have since filled. The school also recently hired a new counselor, Katherine Thompson Graves, pending board approval, which is set for Sept. 17.   

Parent Jody Perkowitz said she has one child who still attends Helena Flats after pulling out four of her children “and he’s afraid,” she said. 

“I’ve had many parents come to me and tell me they are afraid to speak up because they are afraid that their kids are going to be the ones who pay for it if the kids come to school. I have children that have heard what has happened and they’re afraid of him,” she said. 

She urged the board to reconsider allowing Maheras back in the building. 

“Because I can look at [Maheras], and [Maheras] can be a really good guy, but he can also have a temper. I think he needs to do anger management,” she said. 

Dyer, the former board chair who was also in the audience, said she’s worked closely with Maheras for six years. 

“I think that people make mistakes and that sometimes things happen,” she said. “But in the long run he’s brought stability to the school. He’s been a figure for the kids to look up to and I just hope we can judge him for all of that instead of one incident.” 

BUT THE question remained of how he would interact with students or handle discipline with, as a Helena Flats grandparent put it, “children who are afraid of you now.” 

Maheras said he would have “no reason to be working with students” outside of a limited capacity, such as in the hallways, for example. The school’s new principal, Mike Barton, is expected to take on student discipline, according to the district. 

Barton previously worked as principal of the Flathead Crossroads Program in Evergreen, a specialized academic and behavior intervention school open to eligible students across the valley. 

“I’m excited to be here now because I feel like, you know, we can move forward and we need to look at really, what are we doing for kids and doing great things for kids,” Barton said. 

“I’m really looking forward to helping out with some of that discipline and making sure we’re having some uniformity, making sure we’re doing some behavior plans, make sure we’re doing things that we can do things with integrity [and] track that data,” he added. 

While acknowledging he doesn’t have all the answers, Barton said he is confident in his ability to jump into the principal role at Helena Flats and hopes to be an “agent of change.” 

“I know there’s some confidence concerns with the public and the community here. You know, I came from the community right next door … I want to help out with some of that anxiety,” he said. 

Maheras has been the superintendent of Helena Flats for about six years. He previously served as an assistant principal at Bozeman High School, according to an April 7, 2023, Hungry Horse News article outlining his background when he was one of two finalists for the Columbia Falls School District superintendent position. 

Maheras started his career in law enforcement as a juvenile probation/parole officer with the state of Washington and Walla Walla County. He later took a counselor position working with at-risk youth for the Children’s Home Society of Washington, according to the article. He then went into public education, where he’s worked for more than 20 years with 14 of those in administration.

    Andy Maheras (2023 Hungry Horse News file photo)