School election: Meet candidate Heather Vrentas

Heather Vrentas is seeking a second term on the Whitefish School Board because she says there is still a lot to do to make sure students are receiving a good education.

“I feel the board is making some good progress and I want to be a part of that,” she said.

Vrentas has lived in Whitefish for 21 years. She grew up in New York and earned a bachelor’s degree at Connecticut College. She’s married with twins attending sixth grade at Whitefish Middle School.

She is the general manager of Montana Coffee Traders overseeing about 100 employees. She previously served on the Montessori school board.

Vrentas said the district is making steps forward with increasing teacher professional development and she would like to continue to see that evolve.

“I would like to see our professional development and instructional coaching become more embedded in the district,” she said. “Right now it’s outsourced, but I like the idea of having that in the district. So we could have that resource at your disposal more regularly.”

Seeing her own children come home at the end of the school day excited and engaged, in part because of the new lessons happening in the classroom, Vrentas said, makes it obvious that professional development is important.

Vrentas said declining enrollment along with tight budgets is one of the challenges that continues in the district. Whitefish has seen dropping or stagnant enrollment in the past several years and because the district’s funding is largely based on student counts that has lead to tight budgets.

“It’s very hard to make the progressive steps we want to in professional development and drawing kids in when we have less money,” she said. “That’s a pretty big challenge.”

The new high school building along with the planned $2.5 million performing arts and technology wing in the new high school will help the district lure students to the district, Vrentas said. She also points out that Whitefish is unique in that its smaller size allows for a positive experience.

“Part of the idea is having more programs while still having a smaller student body, which gives the direct personal interaction with teachers, counselors and staff,” she said. “That is unique to us.”

Vrentas said there are many ideas to improve curriculum, including increasing the math requirements to graduate and the new block schedule will allow for new opportunities such as community internships or senior projects.

On dealing with a tight budget, Vrentas said the recently approved three-year teacher contract will give an advantage for future budgeting. She compares the school district to the business world — she said the schools needs more customers or students to serve, which will increase the budget dollars available.

“Coming from a customer service background, we just need more customers to serve,” she said. “You offer a product and then have the revenue to support it.”

Vrentas said the example doesn’t apply straight across to education, but she would like to see the district continue to work on attracting and keeping students.

“It’s the idea that when you’re in kindergarten you know you’re a Bulldog and you’re staying,” she said.

Vrentas said she wants to make sure her children, and all who go through Whitefish schools, come out with the best education possible.

“I want them to go through Whitefish and come out as the community members we hope they are,” she said. “The pay back of investing in the schools is huge.”