Legislature working to expand educational opportunities

This week, students and families across the country are raising awareness for expanding K-12 educational opportunities. In Montana, our children and families are as diverse as our geography. The legislature is considering several bills this session to expand the delivery of education services and provide students with learning options that reflect their unique needs.

Flathead Valley well-represented in 2022 Shrine Game

HELENA — The Flathead Valley and Northwest Montana are heavily represented for the 75th Montana East-West Shrine Game, which released its rosters on Christmas.

Legislature expanded education for all Montana families

Education has been one of the most disrupted sectors by COVID-19.

Supply chain issues leave local car lots bare

Car sales moved into the slow lane recently as the automobile industry became the latest victim of pandemic-related shortages.

Legals for August, 20 2020

Fetching up a good time, dog expo Saturday at fairgrounds

Saturday may very well be going to the dogs in Kalispell as the Flathead Kennel Club hosts its 2022 K-9 Expo at the Flathead County Fairgrounds.

Public education system is failing our youth

What would be the fate of a baseball manager whose team had a record of 50 years of losing seasons with each succeeding year falling further down in the standings? Would you continue to not only fully fund, and also provide periodic raises, bonuses and other perks to include a generous retirement plan to the coaching staff? Americans have a low tolerance for perennial losers. There is one very glaring exception and that is America’s K-12 public education system whose effectiveness has dropped to poor and is well on the way to pathetic.

Evergreen Junior High gets grant for breakfast program

Evergreen Junior High School is one of eight Montana schools will get a portion of nearly $28,000 in private grant funding to implement the Breakfast After the Bell program. Evergreen will receive $3,700.

Historic Northwest heat wave may have killed hundreds

Hundreds of deaths in Canada, Oregon and Washington may have been caused by the historic heat wave that baked the Pacific Northwest and shattered all-time temperature records in usually temperate cities.

Schools welcome students back to class

Back to school 2020

Legals for April, 10 2020

State applies for instructional time, testing waivers for schools

The Montana Office of Public Instruction has submitted state and federal waiver requests to ensure school districts do not have to make up lost hours due to school closures related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Additionally, waiver requests have been submitted to ensure districts do not have to complete mandated state standardized tests that are part of academic accountability as part of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act.

Inslee expands closures statewide, virus deaths reach 36

SEATTLE (AP) — Gov. Jay Inslee on Friday expanded school closures and prohibited large gatherings across all of Washington in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus while health officials reportedat least five new deaths and more than 560 people positive tests.

More of California under tight restrictions due to virus

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Extraordinary restrictions on everyday activities expanded to more areas of California on Wednesday as Gov. Gavin Newsom announced he would spend $150 million to try to head off the coronavirus from sweeping through the state's homeless population.

COVID procedures explained for students, staff

Editor’s note: Other school districts’ information will be detailed in the Aug. 28 and Aug. 29 editions of the Inter Lake.

Kalispell, Whitefish superintendents recommend remote learning continue

Superintendent Heather Davis Schmidt says Whitefish Schools should continue with remote learning only for the remainder of the school year.

Innovation and flexibility is critical to teacher licensing

Throughout my tenure as your Montana State Superintendent, I have consistently discussed and evaluated the need to recruit and retain quality teachers in our Montana public schools.

Legals December 8, 2019

No. 26669 CITY OF KALISPELL, MONTANA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Kalispell, Montana (the "City") will hold a public hearing on the proposed amendment to the South Kalispell Urban Renewal Plan (the "Plan") on December 16, 2019, at 7:00 p.m., at the Council Chambers in the Kalispell City Hall, 201 1st Avenue East, Kalispell, Montana. The Plan relates to an urban renewal area within the City designated as the "South Kalispell Urban Renewal District" (the "Urban Renewal Area"), which encompasses the municipal airport and certain adjacent property. The proposed amendment of the Plan is the Airport Road and 18th Street West Project contained within the South Kalispell Urban Renewal Plan published on the City of Kalispell website and accessed at kalispell.com/agendacenter. The Project is designed to mitigate the vehicular and pedestrian impacts of various new developments in the Urban Renewal Area, including an elementary school, apartments, and housing developments. Further information may be obtained from Aimee Brunckhorst, City Clerk, at Kalispell City Hall, 201 1st Avenue East, Kalispell, Montana, telephone number (406) 758-7756, cityclerk@kalispell.com. Any interested persons may appear and will be heard or may file written comments with the City Clerk prior to such hearing. Dated this 2nd day of December, 2019. BY ORDER OF THE CITY COUNCIL Aimee Brunckhorst, CMC, City Clerk December 8, 13, 2019 MNAXLP __________________________

Letters to the editor Jan. 28

In Helena, the Legislature is just starting to gain some steam. Bills are beginning to move through the House. Of note last week was the K-12 school funding bill which had a hearing in the House education committee. It is a Republican goal this session to get this bill to the governor’s desk early. Local school districts are not able to finalize their budgets until the Legislature does its work. In previous Legislatures this bill has been used as a political football later in the session. The effect of this was that local school districts would be handcuffed finalizing their budgets until as late as May. The Republican leadership wanted to help out our local school districts and get this base budget out early in the process. Schools are not partisan. So putting politics aside, we hope to pass this bill out of the House next week.

Local schools welcome students back to class

Opening schools during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant changes in regard to health and safety.