School board considering decision on superintendent

A new Whitefish School District superintendent may be decided by tonight following the final two interviews with candidates on Tuesday afternoon.

The school board will meet in closed executive session this morning to discuss the four candidates: Rick Duncan, superintendent of Powell County High School District in Deer Lodge; Heather Davis Schmidt, executive regional director of Missoula County Public Schools; Josh Middleton, former assistant superintendent of Billings School District; and Lance Pearson, superintendent of Victor Public Schools.

Following the discussion, the board may make a recommendation to replace outgoing Superintendent Kate Orozco by offering a contract to one of the candidates and voting on the matter at the 7 p.m. board meeting.

The four candidates had interviewed with the school board Monday and Tuesday in addition to participating in administrative interviews, school tours and forums with staff, students and the community.

On Tuesday, board members were given a glimpse into the leadership style of the final two interviewees, Duncan and Davis Schmidt.

While candidates varied in their opinions on topics such as leadership style, both candidates touched on the importance of differentiated learning when it comes to classroom instruction and that all children can learn. Duncan and Davis Schmidt also spoke to the importance of moving goals and expectations of the district in a unified direction. The two candidates also agreed that a set of standards such as Common Core is important.

Duncan, who was the first to interview with the board, focused on strategic planning, transparency, visibility in the community and preparing students for college and career readiness.

He described a strategic plan as a “living” and changing document that should guide decisions.

“When you make decisions it should be based on the strategic plan,” Duncan said, adding that he would ask the board to not rewrite the plan every year, but to review the goals.

“Are they your goals? Are they important to you? And most importantly, are they directed to all the students of Whitefish School District from pre-K through 12, gifted students and students with special needs?” Duncan asked.

Davis Schmidt emphasized her strengths on professional development, the efficacy of instructional coaches, consistency and teamwork.

“In general when it comes to supervision I like to really focus on the positives. I like to base everything on people’s strengths,” Davis Schmidt said. “We focus on the positives with our students and we get the kind of results that we want. The same is true with our staff from a supervision standpoint.”

Duncan and Davis Schmidt offered their take on the Common Core Standards. Duncan said he believes they are attainable and compared them to No Child Left Behind in that they create national educational standards.

“We have a much better handle on where students should be,” Duncan said, particularly if a student moves into the district from another state.

Davis Schmidt said the Common Core aligns to what the district already strives for.

“It wasn’t such a struggle for us,” Davis Schmidt said. “I think one of the struggles educators have found is the large number of standards that they have to wrestle with, so that’s where the professional learning communities come in.”

When questioned about benefits and pitfalls resulting from dual-credit classes, Duncan didn’t see many pitfalls other than logistical. Duncan said it’s a great opportunity for students and parents — both in earning college credit and saving money on college tuition.

One challenge Davis Schmidt saw in dual-credit courses may be between high school and college teacher unions when deciding who teaches the courses, but otherwise said she saw them as an opportunity for a student to get foundational college courses out of the way.

Budget-wise, Duncan didn’t seem to be a proponent of deferred maintenance, which he saw costing the district more down the line. When it comes to curriculum or adding a program to the budget, he said it has to be done with much scrutiny.

“It’s a lot easier to add a program than to take away a program,” Duncan said.

Davis Schmidt outlined the three priorities she would consider in budgeting — accreditation standards, student achievement and professional development.

“What is most important? What are we willing to give up in order to move forward with something that is critical to our future success,” Davis Schmidt said.

Monday’s interviews were with Pearson and Middleton.