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
Kalispell schools, classified union sign contract
The Kalispell Federation of Classified Personnel and Kalispell Public Schools have reached a three-year contract agreement.
School W-2 forms contain a surprise
The Kalispell Public Schools business office received multiple phone calls after electronic W-2 forms sent out Jan. 31 showed staff salaries at quadruple their correct amounts.
Schools chip away at graduation rates
As high school graduation initiatives gain momentum in Montana, Flathead County schools are seeing improvements in the number of students getting diplomas.
Glacier expands engineering options
Glacier High School is ramping up a new engineering program for next school year.
My Sister's Closet: Shop offers sweet deal on prom dresses
High school prom is a rite of passage for many teenagers.
Graduation Matters Kalispell - 'I Pledge to Stay in School'
Hundreds of eighth-graders from area schools were dropped off Friday by the busload at the Flathead County Fairgrounds for one reason: To find out why graduation matters.
Band teacher motivated by students, not awards
Allen Slater has received many awards during his 34 years as a high school band teacher, but that’s not what motivates him to help students make music.
Columbia Falls reigns supreme in Class A speech
School has won eight straight titles
The Columbia Falls High School speech and debate team on Saturday secured the school’s eighth consecutive Class A state championship.
Glacier, Flathead finish 1-2 in Class AA speech finale
Wolfpack take third straight title
Kalispell schools topped the Class AA Speech and Debate State Tournament on Saturday with a one-two finish.
C. Falls aims for eight straight
Speech team on the road for title defense
Today, 25 Columbia Falls High School speech and debate competitors travel to Havre in a quest for an eighth consecutive Class A state title.
New center focuses on holistic intelligence
Creative learning
Kalispell counselor Julie Kiewatt is looking to nourish the emotional and creative intelligence of children in addition to their physical and academic needs.
Glacier speech aims for state threepeat
The Glacier Wolfpack Speech and Debate team is a heavyweight contender in next weekend’s Class AA state tournament on the strength of five varsity sweepstakes wins and one second-place finish this season.
Judges needed for major speech meet
Approximately 427 volunteer judges are needed for the National Forensic League District Qualifier speech and debate tournament next month in Kalispell.
Sharing the load: Bigfork couple creates nonprofit to support foster system
In 2008, an issue of Outreach magazine was unexpectedly delivered to Steve and Mary Bryan’s Bigfork residence.
Flathead schools' enrollment up slightly
Eight of 19 elementary districts gained in student numbers
Enrollment in Flathead County schools is up 1 percent from last year, with 14,941 students attending public and private schools as of Oct. 1, 2012
Expansion the stuff of DREAMs
Cheri DuBeau has dreams for expanding recreational opportunities for people with disabilities.
Exploring the pathways of the brain
Analyst on the cutting edge of unique imaging
Carinna Torgerson, a Laboratory of Neuro Imaging programmer analyst, can take data from a brain and translate it into dense areas of nerve fibers assigned a psychedelic array of colors to distinguish pathway directions.
Whitefish school plans scaled back
Labs, equipment put on hold so high school project can meet budget
After the estimated cost of rebuilding Whitefish High School was projected to come in $1.3 million over budget, the design team has found a way to keep the rebuild within the $19 million budget.
Whitefish teachers reject contract
Whitefish School District teacher contract negotiations are at a stalemate.
Glacier makes AP honor roll
Glacier High School recently was listed on the College Board’s Third Annual AP District Honor Roll.
Fair-Mont-Egan youth wins logo contest
Fair-Mont-Egan eighth-grader Caleb LeClercq’s design was selected as the winner of the Graduation Matters Kalispell logo contest.
Speech, debate students match wits and words
Katherine Champion came out of Glacier High School Room D-218 breathless, her faced flushed from the physical exertion of performing a Humorous Interpretation piece during the preliminary round of the Valley Talkdown speech and debate exhibition.
Horses, team bus collide
A Eureka school bus collided with two horses late Thursday night, but bus occupants suffered only minor injuries.
Youth's life measured in dozens
Twelve is a perfect number for Parker Greene of Columbia Falls.
Offering help for the hungry
Food bank director thrives on volunteer work
Janyce Von Lindern of Columbia Falls believes that a person’s character and deeds are what count in life.
Principal pitching in for distant school
Eureka Elementary School Principal Cari Lucey is more than 3,000 miles away building a school in the Dominican Republic.
Montessori students learn heart smarts
Gasps of awe and revulsion filled a room at Kalispell Montessori Elementary School recently when a large cow heart was displayed before sixth-graders.
Ministry on the move: Serious JuJu rolls to the streets
Change is one thing that has remained the same for Serious JuJu, director JD Carabin wrote in a letter to supporters.
School officials meet with local legislators
Kalispell Public Schools trustees met with local legislators at an education forum Wednesday to discuss the district’s needs before the 2013 legislative session.
New Whitefish academy to teach four languages
Habla usted español (Do you speak Spanish)? Parlez-vous français (Do you speak French)?
Bird's-eye view: Student takes flight to study conservation
Colorado Mountain College junior Sabrina Blauvelt has an aerial perspective of water conservation.
Lower school bond rates may save taxpayers money
Kalispell Public Schools may lock in a lower interest rate than expected as they prepare to sell $3.35 million in bonds for classroom construction.
Youngsters give heartfelt thanks
When Peterson Elementary teacher Mylea Olesen asked her first-graders how they wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving, they all agreed there should be a feast with family invited.
Flathead student to receive ACLU award
Flathead High School senior Barrie Sugarman will be given a Jeanette Rankin award by the American Civil Liberties Union of Montana for her role in demonstrating First Amendment rights for public school students.
Musicians earn All-Northwest accolades
Eight Northwest Montana students have been selected to perform in the All-Northwest band, orchestra or choir.
Whitefish honors volunteer, teacher
The Whitefish Chamber of Commerce has recognized two people for their leadership achievements in volunteering and education.
Students learn the art of improvisation
Whether in orchestra or concert band, music students from Northwest Montana schools learned the art of instrumental improvisation this week under the direction of a New York jazz collective.
Bigfork has six cases of pertussis
There are six confirmed cases of pertussis (whooping cough) in third- through 11th-graders in Bigfork School District, according to Jody White, Flathead Community Health Services director.
Young Glacier High voters pick Republicans
Glacier High School students went to the polls Thursday in a school-wide mock election.
'Lend a hand' to stop bullying
Ruder School joins Olweus prevention program
Ruder Elementary School students in Columbia Falls learned how to “take a stand” and “lend a hand” to stop bullying.
High-school students vote GOP all the way
With no previous experience, going into election polls for first-time voters may seem daunting.
Roof repaired over East Evergreen School gym
A 1,400-square-foot section of roofing over East Evergreen Elementary School’s gym recently was replaced following a roof inspection earlier in the year.
C. Falls school union contracts settled
District workers, teachers to receive slight pay raises
Certified and classified employees working for Columbia Falls School District will see a slight pay increase now through the 2013-2014 school year.
Glacier High students earn pageant honors
During the Miss Montana Teen USA pageant held Oct. 7 in Missoula, two Glacier High School students placed in the top five.
Student teacher to vie for Miss USA pageant
Flathead High School graduate Kacie West of Kalispell, left, was recently crowned Miss Montana USA. To her right is Miss Montana Teen USA winner Maurissa Gunn, who represented Laurel. Both go on to compete for national titles in June.
Senator hears about early education benefits
Investing in early childhood education and care has a high return — $16 for every $1 spent due to reduced costs in crime, welfare and special education.
College students build school addition
Olney-Bissell School is growing by approximately 1,000 feet.
Public service a lifestyle for volunteer
From the Peace Corps to FoodCorps
After two years in the Peace Corps and now in her second year as a FoodCorps service member, Katie Wheeler is a bona fide public servant committed to the idea of sustainability.
Heritage Days 2012
