HILARY MATHESON
EDUCATION REPORTER
Hilary Matheson covers education for the Daily Inter Lake. Her reporting focuses on schools, students, and the policies that shape public education across Northwest Montana. Matheson regularly reports on school boards, district decisions and issues affecting teachers and families. Her work examines how funding, enrollment and state policy influence local school systems. She helps readers understand how education decisions affect students and communities throughout the region.
IMPACT: Hilary’s work provides transparency and insight into the schools that serve thousands of local families.
Recent Stories
Whitefish High gym-floor project delayed
After just two years of use, the Whitefish High School gym floor is being replaced because of worsening performance problems, but the replacement project has run into delays this summer.
Gender identity becomes part of school policy
After a finale featuring 62 people addressing the Kalispell Public Schools Board of Trustees, “gender identity, sexual orientation or gender expression” were added Tuesday to the list of protected classes in the school district’s Equal Education, Nondiscrimination and Sex Equity Policy.
Flathead teacher, fellow climbers summit Denali
Warren Lane had unfinished business with the highest peak in North America after a first failed attempt to reach the summit of Mount McKinley — widely known as Denali — with his son four years ago.
Kalispell Public Schools to have final reading of nondiscrimination policy on Tuesday
Kalispell Public Schools will have its third and final reading of its revised nondiscrimination and sex equity policy Tuesday.
Flathead Electric launches solar-panel program
Flathead Electric Cooperative members may now harness the sun’s rays through a new renewable energy program.
Science projects abound at GHS camp
Let the science games begin!
Polebridge business gets new owner
Heather Matthews has gone from customer to owner of the Northern Lights Saloon and Cafe in Polebridge.
Firefighting force reduced to 520
Temperature hits record 101
The Reynolds Creek Fire continues to burn on the east side of Glacier National Park, but the firefighting force has been reduced by about 150 people over the last three days.
Girl sells sprites for a cause
At her booth this weekend at the Bigfork Festival of the Arts, Cleo Maloney, 12, has a bit of magic in the form of small creatures called sprites.
Voters to decide fate of $14 million Bigfork High School expansion
Greek in Glacier program brings philosophy to the park
Walter Roberts III of Detroit has brought Plato to Polebridge, along with Greek and Latin.
Weather keeps Glaicer Park fire in check; containment grows
Campers learn historic art of logrolling
Rolling along
Flathead and Lincoln county 4-H campers are participating in a more than century-old sport — logrolling.
Logrolling
Boiler project on tap at KMS
Two steam boilers will be replaced at Kalispell Middle School.
Wind burst wrecks Whitefish school shed, damages track
A fierce, unusual burst of wind caused thousands of dollars in damage to Whitefish School District’s pole vault pit and track on Wednesday.
MSU study looks at local schools' meat program
There are more cows than people living in Montana. With that in mind, Montana State University researchers looking at what it will take to increase the amount of locally sourced beef in school cafeterias.
Aquaponics enterprise grows from a youthful hobby into a business
Glacier High School graduate Trevor Kenkel has bounced back from a series of debilitating concussions that took him off the football field and put him behind five 1,200-gallon fish tanks at his East Coast aquaponics farm, Springworks.
Opposition intensifies at meeting
During a packed school board meeting Tuesday, about 20 people wanted to speak on the suggested revision to Kalispell Public Schools nondiscrimination policy.
Troy superintendent's travels provide global perspective
Russia has fascinated Troy School District Superintendent Jacob Francom, 37, since he first studied the language and culture as a 16-year-old.
Teachers run bookmobile to counter 'summer slide'
The “summer slide” is not the kind found in the playground, and it’s not fun when it happens to children.
Gender identity policy goes before board again
A second reading to discuss amending a nondiscrimination policy in Kalispell Public Schools is on the agenda for the July 14 school board meeting.
Kalispell schools upgrade district website
The Kalispell Public Schools website has a new look.
Teens enjoy sweet side of business
Appleholics entrepreneurs
Candied apples dipped in fresh batches of homemade caramel and enveloped in toppings are the fruits of three Whitefish teenagers’ labor.
School contracts renewed
Kalispell Public Schools trustees approved the renewal of contracts for district employees ranging from superintendent to bus drivers, nurses and other non-union staffers.
Gender identity policy receives broad support
The inclusion of just six words — gender identity, sexual orientation, gender expression — in a Kalispell Public Schools non-discrimination policy has elicited a response from the public.
Dillon academy helps shape up Kalispell teen
Caitlyn Hansen of Kalispell was intent to shape up when she enrolled in the Montana Youth Challenge Academy.
HEART Locker gets a new home in Kalispell
Departments are shifting locations in Kalispell Public Schools to utilize space and the HEART Locker is one of them.
Kalispell schools begin facility planning
Kalispell Public Schools has begun a conversation on facility planning that will spur conversations that may impact students for years to come.
Firefighters attack North Fork fire
About 50 firefighters were deployed Saturday fighting a fire up the North Fork that had grown from a quarter of an acre at 1:46 p.m. to 30 acres within five hours.
Ohio 4-H'ers enjoy Northwest Montana
About 15 Ohio youths took a trip through the 4-H Interstate Exchange to the Flathead Valley this week, exploring the unique geography and lifestyle of Northwest Montana.
New salary schedule set up for school principals
By HILARY MATHESON
Kalispell PEO chapter celebrates 100-year milestone
The Kalispell chapter of the PEO started with 10 young women.
O2 Experience tour comes to Kalispell
The 02 Experience tour is not quite about sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll. Instead, the Friday event will dig into questions on life and death, sex and romance and how it fits into “God’s plan.”
'Printed' hand finds a subject
Student project
Jon Ruonavaara of Kalispell lost all his fingers to frostbite during a hunting accident in 2010. Since then, he has been outfitted with hook prosthetics.
Summer meal program open to all youths
School may be out for summer, but children 18 and under will continue to have access to nutritious meals.
Youth gets to experience state high court
Boys State
Anthony Wright of Kalispell had an opportunity to not only glimpse the inner workings of the state Supreme Court, but become part of it at the American Legion of Montana Boys State.
Meeting to look at future school needs
The community is invited to participate in facility planning for Kalispell Public Schools and the future use of property the district purchased south of town.
Science siblings strike again at international fair
The Norick brothers of Columbia Falls proved — once again — to be a powerhouse science team.
Whitefish Middle School creates dean position
Whitefish School District board has created a new dean of students position at Whitefish Middle School.
Bigfork board, teachers reach two-year contract agreement
The Bigfork School Board approved a two-year contract with the Bigfork Area Education Association Wednesday in addition to several one-year administrator contracts.
'Your beautiful is beautiful'
Special photo shoot features makeup-free teens
The familiar adage, “Beauty is only skin deep,” took on a literal meaning for a group of high school girls from Flathead, Glacier and Whitefish high schools.
Young filmmakers craft inspirational video
A team of Kalispell Middle School eighth-graders in Noah Couser’s class took a crash course in movie making.
New law constricts school budgeting
Whitefish
Whitefish School District is one of three school districts that will be affected by House Bill 114 that was signed into law in May.
LHC gets bid for school parking lot
Kalispell Public Schools board of trustees awarded a contract to rebuild the Flathead High School east parking lot in front of the school.
Glacier student shines on Trig-Star
Glacier High School once again had a student rise to the top of the annual Trig-Star math contest.
Honor students repeat their feats in high school
Eighth-grade success carries on for graduates St. Matthew’s stars
An eighth-grade honor roll unites a special group of 13 high achievers graduating from Glacier and Flathead high schools this weekend.
Flathead senior: 'I don't plan on making more of a personal profit than $1 million'
Senior spotlight: Class of 2015
Connor Roettig is driven, assertive, industrious, enterprising and a future entrepreneur and humanitarian with presidential aspirations.
Grad ceremonies stretch over three days
“Pomp and Circumstance” will once again play throughout the Flathead Valley as high school seniors graduate.
'It's kind of fun to be part of the process to make society progress'
Senior spotlight: class of 2015
Colter Norick not only wants to shape his future but also the “minds” of machines through the science of artificial intelligence.