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
School bond decision heads to voters
The future of Whitefish High School is on the line as voters decide over the next couple of weeks whether or not to support a $14 million bond request to rebuild and renovate the high school.
School project gets NASA treatment
Four Glacier High School teachers are back in the classroom after spending a week with NASA engineers at Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Evergreen word wizard cleans up with 'hygiene'
Without pause, Evergreen Junior High School eighth-grader Jazmyn Austin spelled the winning word at the Flathead County Spelling Bee Thursday.
Two minutes at a time to healthy teeth
Armed with an oversized plastic model of teeth and a toothbrush, Kalispell dentist Cameron Clark of the Northwest Center for Dentistry was prepared to teach oral hygiene to Edgerton Elementary School kindergartners on Friday.
Evergreen students learn about the grim effects of meth
Evergreen junior high students grimaced Thursday when they looked at images of "meth mouth" or the progression of oral decay when people use methamphetamine.
A 'dream room' for Caleb
School leads effort to remake room for 6-year-old
Caleb Speed is just like any other 6-year-old boy — unless you look closely around the Evergreen home where he lives with his mom, brother and sister.
School officials try to devise solutions to overcrowding
Kalispell school trustees wrestling with overcrowded elementary schools are considering both short-term and long-range solutions.
Paraprofessionals: Helping hands in crowded classrooms
Paraprofessionals such as Debbie O’Boyle and LuAnn Servo often are the “unsung heroes” in schools, according to kindergarten teacher Amy Grigoletti at Elrod School in Kalispell.
Artists impart American Indian perspectives
Flathead High School art students are getting inspiration and advice this week from a pair of American Indian artists, David Dragonfly and Valentina LaPier.
Three survive crash into home
Plane struck trees, lost wing before plowing into house
A small plane carrying three people crashed Saturday afternoon into a home in south Kalispell — and all the occupants survived.
Board rejects union grievance
Whitefish teachers want OK for union work in prep periods
The Whitefish school board has denied a bid by the teachers union to use prep time to discuss union business.
Columbia Falls principal honored again
For the second year in a row, Dave Wick has been honored as a top school administrator.
Kalispell school buses now equipped with GPS tracking
With about 2,600 students in Kalispell Public Schools riding the bus each year, safety is a priority. That’s why the district updated its bus routing and management system to include GPS systems.
Lincoln County schools join GEAR UP program
Libby, Troy and Eureka schools plan to implement GEAR UP programs in their middle and high schools for the first time this year.
Evergreen student wins trip to Italy, Greece
Hannah Tullett has an opportunity most eighth-graders can only dream about: Winning a scholarship that will pay for an educational trip to Europe for 19 days this summer.
Kalispell eyes tech levy for high schools
The Kalispell School Board is considering asking voters to approve a technology levy that would provide upgrades at both Flathead and Glacier high schools.
West Valley superintendent takes new job
Todd Fiske will be leaving West Valley School after 12 years as superintendent.
Speech and debate: Columbia Falls goes for seven straight
With six consecutive state championship titles under its belt, the Columbia Falls High School speech and debate team is in the hunt for a seventh state win going into the Class A state competition Friday and Saturday at Polson High School.
Kalispell students score well on college readiness exams
Flathead and Glacier high school ACT and SAT scores show students are college-ready, but school administrators would like to see more students taking the tests.
Children celebrate Chinese New Year at local art studio
Students at StillRiver Art Studio got a jump on the Chinese New Year celebration by performing a traditional dragon dance Saturday at the Kalispell studio where they’ve spent time making all kinds of dragon artwork.
Student achieves exam perfection
Whitefish High School senior Molly Schmidt expected a high ACT score.
Whitefish School Board OKs $14 million bond request
The Whitefish School Board on Tuesday approved a $14 million bond request for a proposed $19 million high school reconstruction and renovation project.
Teen back in class after collapse at school
"Miraculous" is how Columbia Falls High School nurse Cathy Dragonfly described the first breath taken by 16-year-old Cole Brown after he collapsed during P.E. class from cardiac arrest.
Forum tackles cyberbullying
Community discusses online safety issues
With 800 million Facebook users worldwide, safety — particularly cyberbullying — is a huge concern and was the focus of a community forum Thursday at Flathead High School.
National magazine honors Whitefish band director
Whitefish Middle School and Whitefish High School band director Mark McCrady recently received national recognition as an outstanding music instructor.
Runner raises thousands to benefit youth
Zach Perrin was exhausted but satisfied after running 50 miles Saturday.
Whitefish gears up for Holiday Food Bags
For some students, school is not only a place to learn, but also a place where they can eat breakfast and lunch every day.
Whitefish gears up for Holiday Food Bags
For some students, school is not only a place to learn, but also a place where they can eat breakfast and lunch every day.
'Christmas at Our House' draws a crowd
It takes roughly 200 volunteers, 100 turkeys, 100 hams, one ton of potatoes, 300 pounds of yams and 800 pounds of green beans to feed the army of people who attended the annual “Christmas at Our House” dinner.
Reading helps bridge generations
Although Anita Schumacher of Whitefish and Lynnette Ludviksen of Columbia Falls graduated from high school years ago, they have returned to the halls of high school to read with sophomores at Flathead High School.
Glacier teachers to fly with NASA
A team of four Glacier High School teachers will fly high in the sky conducting experiments in February.
Flathead school leaders get immersed in educational system of distant culture
From left, Matt Jensen, Ann Minckler and Todd Fiske pose in front of a statue of Confucius.
Injured youth home to continue recovery
About seven weeks ago doctors were not sure 18-year-old Daniel “Dano” Busick would survive severe brain injuries after a 20-foot fall onto rock.
Wildflowers bring color, inspiration
New children’s book features artwork by Bigfork teacher
Sharon Lamar of Swan Valley is an educator, watercolorist and children's author.
13-year-old cowboy a champion roper
Thirteen-year-old Lincoln May Jr. has quite a few roping wins under his belt buckle.
Raffle winner collects coveted pickup truck
Twenty dollars was all it took for Gene and Jackie Lenz of Kalispell to win a 2011 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck.
St. Matthew's expands education for preschoolers
The 2- to 5-year-olds at St. Matthew’s School now have room to grow.
Bagpiper blends Scottish pride with mountain-man ideals
Kalispell resident Rod Douglas believes people can probably discover their heritage through the music for which they have an affinity. Douglas' passion is the Great Highland bagpipe, a tangible icon of his Scottish pride.