School board election profile: Karla West

Karla West says her career in education and work with nonprofit organizations would be helpful in overseeing the school district if elected as a Whitefish School Board trustee.

West has worked at all levels of education and currently serves in several positions at Flathead Valley Community College. She is director for both the Glacier Jazz Stampede and a jazz camp in Washington.

“I see the school board as a way to give back to the community,” she said. “I have experience on both sides — the administration and the education. I feel my experience will be helpful dealing with challenging issues.”

West has taught at elementary, middle and high school and has spent 40 years in education. She joined FVCC in 1987 and has since taught a number of business classes. She is the chairperson for the business division, is the director of the medical assistant program and is the advisor for the music department. She has also served on a number of committees at the college.

She began playing the piano at 5 years old and that influence has led to a lifetime of being involved with music. She has taught piano lessons, is a member of the Montana Highlanders Bagpipe Band and serves with two nonprofit organizations for the jazz music festival and jazz camp.

“I’m always performing or teaching music,” she said. “I’ve kept up the music involvement my whole life. I’ve had administrative experience for the two event nonprofits. I’ve had to do a lot of budget creation and curriculum development.”

West has four grown children who have gone through Whitefish schools and grandchildren who have attended the schools.

“Serving on the school board seems like a way for me to give back to the community in another way,” she said. “After 40 years of experience in education, I thought maybe I would have something to offer.”

West says her background gives her a unique perspective and that she doesn’t have a specific agenda.

“I would like to see teamwork with the board and all members of the team that are responsible for education,” she said. “I would like to see if I can do something to enhance the teamwork that already exists. I want to see the best interests of all the students placed as the top priority.”

On dealing with the school budget, West points to her work with nonprofits and background in business education as being an asset.

“Nonprofits budgets aren’t nearly as big, but the basic premise is the same — you can’t spend more money than you make,” she said. “I will take the time to get up to speed on all aspects of the school budget. Because of my business background, the budget is an area I will gravitate to pretty easily.”

West said she’s excited about the remodel of the high school building. The high school is in the beginning stages of a $19 million construction project.

“I know there are some concerns about being over budget at this time,” she said. “I know it’s a concern when things go over budget and I share that as a taxpayer. I also share the hope that things will even out.”

Enrollment in the schools has dropped in the last 10 years, but West believes it will come back up.

“Whitefish has some years that are up and some down as people come and leave,” she said. “I think Whitefish will be like other communities and there will always be that change. For the moment were down, but it’s going to come back up.”

Enrollment numbers are a concern because of the impact it has on funding, she noted.

“One of the challenges that faces the school board is how do we handle those slow years,” she said. “We have to make sure things work out until will get years with higher enrollment.”

The school district is preparing for the change to the Common Core Standards. By 2014-15, the state expects districts to fully implement the standards that set learning goals.

“The Common Core Standards is another challenge facing the school districts,” she said. “My experience at the college level and with assessment will be of some assistance when making decisions related to that.”

West said her goal is to make sure the school district is providing the best education possible and is being fiscally responsible.

“I plan to be very well-informed on all sides of an issue,” she said. “I hope I can add input on the board and my past experience will be of value.”