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
Students want county to retain recycling program
As Flathead County considers scaling back the number of blue recycling bins offered at sites throughout the county, a group of Flathead High School students made a pitch to the commissioners on Tuesday to keep the recycling program at its current level.
West Valley bond ballots to be mailed Tuesday
Ballots go in the mail Tuesday asking residents of the West Valley School District to approve a 20-year, $6.8 million bond request to expand the school.
School lunch leader wins state honor
Jenny Montague, Kalispell Public Schools Food Services director, is a leader when it comes to serving healthy meals using locally purchased food on a large scale.
Class builds confidence through self-defense
Twenty girls recently gathered in the Flathead High School wrestling room — not to practice pinning techniques but to learn self-defense tactics grounded in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Trustees vote to buy former stove store
Relocation will not be far for Kalispell Public Schools Auxiliary Services.
Advice to parents of teens: 'Say it, be it, find it'
Do middle-schoolers care that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranks Montana third in the nation for suicide as the leading cause of death?
A warm welcome home: Returning 495th greeted by families, supporters
Smiles stretched across an expansive crowd filling Glacier Jet Center Saturday. People hooted and hollered, waved their hands and shook signs as if waiting for rock stars, but they were each waiting for someone far more important — military heroes.
Teachers rewarded for board certification
Three local teachers have received $3,000 stipends for earning National Board Certification.
Superintendent search begins
The search is on for a new Kalispell Public Schools superintendent.
Longtime sub says students keep him young
There rarely are groans or goofing off when Glenn Young is the substitute teacher.
'All I want to do is sing' - Glacier High School senior to perform with national choir
Seventeen-year-old Alexa Cote fondly recalls performances of “I’m a Little Teacup” in front of friends and family as a starting point in discovering her vocal talents.
District reaches deal to sell building
Kalispell Public Schools trustees on Tuesday voted to move forward with the sale of the district’s Auxiliary Services Building at 514 E. Washington St.
Kila woman's patient work turns wild mustang into 'a big, affectionate baby'
Elisa Wilson took a walk on the wild side and adopted a mustang in May.
Beating the odds: Teen overcomes homelessness
Finding a room to rent in recent weeks has meant a world of difference to Zack Summers of Kalispell.
Bigfork sax player to march in Macy's Parade
Bigfork student Carson Cantrell will have to hold off on eating turkey this Thanksgiving to march in one of America’s cherished traditions — the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
West Valley wants $6.8 million school addition
West Valley School District is asking voters to approve a $6.8 million bond request through a mail-ballot election in October.
Campers of all ages explore the outdoors with Ravenwood
Under the bright morning sun, campers of all ages, from babies to grandparents, gather around a small campfire. Each camper walks up to the fire and tosses in what looks like a sprig of evergreen and shares what they hope to learn that day.
Taxes stay steady in $56 million school budget
Kalispell Public Schools is in good financial shape going into the 2013-14 school year.
European students going door-to-door selling books
Door-to-door sales may be rare these days, but Meelis Mikiver and Raido Raad are doing just that in the Flathead Valley this summer.
4-Hers learn about diseases through state program
Claudia Hewston didn’t think she’d love learning about infectious diseases until she attended BioScience Montana.
Kalispell school additions nearly completed
Except for a few minor items to be completed, the Peterson Elementary School addition is ready, weeks ahead of schedule.
Kalispell vo-ag teacher earns national recognition
Kalispell Public Schools vocational agriculture teacher Justin Heupel recently was recognized for his leadership and success in the classroom and the community.
Evergreen, W. Valley schools OK raises
Evergreen and West Valley school district employees will receive pay increases under new, two-year contracts.
Educator follows her dream to Evergreen
Getting the superintendent position of Evergreen School District was serendipitous for Laurie Barron.
Top students now will be able to qualify for honors diplomas
Academic recognition is a motivator for student achievement.
Columbia Falls youths get military inspiration
After graduating from Columbia Falls High School in 1992, Robert Stout entered boot camp.
Kalispell hiker, 89, takes his age in stride
Man will tackle Danny On today
At 89 and just months away from his birthday in November, Jim Bell takes his age in stride.
Tutors, school district settle new three-year contract
The Kalispell Tutors Federation has a new contract after more than a year of negotiations with Kalispell Public Schools.
Mentors sought for grad project
When students lack encouragement or guidance from adults in their academic endeavors, graduation may not be a priority.
Literary journal inspires students
Copies of the first edition of “Glacier Footprints,” a literary journal produced by creative writing students at Glacier High School, have gone fast.
Bigfork school board OKs 2 percent raises
Bigfork School District’s two unions and administrators will get a 2 percent pay increase next school year after the board of trustees approved salaries Wednesday.
School districts combine for insurance
The switch to a self-funded health insurance structure is now a cooperative effort between Kalispell Public Schools and the Whitefish School District.
Whitefish High School project still over budget
The final bid package containing the majority of construction at Whitefish High School didn’t bring in anticipated savings for the project, which remains over budget.
Glacier leader named AA principal of year
Glacier High School Principal Callie Langohr recently was named Class AA Principal of the Year, adding to a number of distinguished honors for the Kalispell school.
Local speech standouts get national experience
Plans altered for rebuild of school
Whitefish High School has made significant changes to its reconstruction project that may save money and retain square footage originally slated for demolition.
Legends to get new scoreboard, track
Athletes will have about $176,480 in improvements to look forward to at Legends Stadium in the form of a new scoreboard and resurfaced track.
Schools gearing up for Common Core
Students across the nation will enter a new era of standardized tests in the 2014-15 school year ushered in by the Common Core Standards.
Superintendent Schottle to resign next year
Darlene Schottle is entering her last school year as superintendent of Kalispell Public Schools.
Montana school leader rallies local Democrats
Women who have forged new paths in Montana politics for future generations were a cause for celebration Friday.
Classroom work ahead of schedule
Construction on Peterson and Edgerton school classroom additions in Kalispell is under budget and ahead of schedule.
Tree memorial for teen a big success
Hundreds of native ponderosa pines will serve as living memorials to Kayli Wagoner.
School leaders get 1.5-percent raises
Kalispell Public Schools administrators had their contracts renewed with 1.5 percent salary increases Tuesday.
Youth heads for national electronics competition
After winning first place in April at the Montana SkillsUSA competition in electronics technology, recent Glacier High School graduate Tyler Godbold has studied hard to compete at the national level.
Generosity helps girl ride in comfort
Getting around is easier for the Wyatt family of Kalispell thanks to a donated van outfitted for their daughter Candace.
Schools get $1.2 million energy grant
Kalispell Public Schools received a much-needed Quality Schools Facility grant to continue making improvements at Flathead High School.
School districts work on ways to help out homeless students
Area organizations are seeking ways to provide shelter and resources for more than 290 students identified as homeless in Kalispell and Evergreen school districts.
Students try to solve worldly problems
During a recent Model U.N. conference, Flathead High School students from four Western Civilization honors courses attempted to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Syrian crisis.
Polson, Glacier ranked in top 10 percent in U.S.
U.S. News & World Report recently ranked Polson and Glacier high schools in the top 10 percent of the nation’s best-performing high schools.
Columbia Falls seeks school funds in levies
The Columbia Falls School District is requesting two general fund levies in an election Tuesday.