Two face off for Kalispell board seat
Two candidates are competing for the open high school seat on the Kalispell School Board that represents Somers, Lakeside and Kila.
That election will take place Tuesday, May 4, during voting for the Somers-Lakeside School Board positions. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Somers Middle School and Lakeside Elementary School. Absentee ballots have to be returned by May 3 at noon.
Below are profiles of each of the candidates.
JEAN BARRAGAN
Jean Barragan, 61, has been in education for 37 years, including 18 years at Flathead High School, and has lived in Lakeside nearly the whole time. She has done teaching fellowships and exchanges in Australia, China and Japan. Her child also graduated from FHS.
She's currently an adjunct instructor at Flathead Valley Community College and coordinator and director of teacher education programs for the University of Great Falls on the FVCC campus. Barragan, who is the incumbent, was originally appointed to the board to fill a vacancy, and has been serving for the past two years. Last year, she had to run for a one-year term, but this time her seat, if she's elected, will be for three years.
She serves on the curriculum committee, which her expertise is in and she's passionate about.
"I believe the curriculum needs to be held to a very high academic standard," Barragan said.
In times of budget crisis, this also means decisions are going to have to be made with a "cerebral approach, not an emotional approach."
"I feel that I'm a trustee of the whole. I represent Somers and Lakeside, but the whole of the high school needs to be considered," Barragan said. "I would be hopeful we could have a more seamless entry for eighth graders into high school."
The key issues for the board will be financial considerations and high academic standards, she said.
She also has experience on boards in other capacities. She's currently president of a philanthropic education association that gives scholarships to women in education, has served on the Lakeside Community Chapel board, and is the past-president of the Flathead County Republican Women.
"Vote for me for my expertise in understanding education at all levels," Barragan said. "That includes teaching experience, board experience, curriculum development and teacher training."
ROB KELLER
Rob Keller, 47, grew up in the Valley, attended Flathead High School and returned to the area in 1993. He is currently a real estate broker with Montana Brokers.
His two children attended school in the Somers-Lakeside School District and his oldest son is now at FHS. Through their years, Keller says he has been actively involved in the schools. He organized and volunteers for the Somers and Lakeside Booster Club and has coached travel basketball for the Somers Middle School 7th/8th-grade team.
He has many reasons for running for the open seat -— all of the students enrolled at FHS.
"I have a passion for kids," Keller said.
His own children as well as his knowledge of their friends and others at the school give Keller a vested interest in serving on the board, he said.
"I feel they really need a strong voice at that school," Keller said.
Keller said he has support from the Somers-Lakeside board and will work with those trustees as well.
"I want to bridge the gap," Keller said. "I want to help them be represented and give them everything they need to excel at the high school level."
In looking at the budget, the needs of education as well as the taxpayer should be taken into account, he said.
"We need to take a strong approach to see where cuts can be made that least effect students," Keller said. "It is not reasonable, especially in the current economy, to ask the taxpayer for more of their money."
Keller also has served on the board of directors at his church for the last seven years in positions as both treasurer and secretary, which he says will help him learn and contribute to the board quickly. He also has worked with Crown Financial Ministries as a money coach to assist people dealing with financial difficulties.