Education association evaluates trustee candidates

Whitefish Education Association leadership officers interviewed all four Whitefish School Board candidates. We are grateful for people who care about our schools, and are wiling to run for office, as well as serve, if elected as a trustee.

WEA believes change is essential for Whitefish School District. We were looking for candidates that knew the issues the district is facing and concrete ideas on how to overcome them. Therefore, we will highlight important points discussed by each candidate.

Darcy Schellinger has been a tireless advocate in our schools. She dedicates countless hours to volunteering along with being an advocate for change. She is solution oriented and know that being a pro teach is about being child-centered. She specifically supports smaller class sizes and other resources to support learning and teachers in the classroom. Darcy is in the schools and understands the reasons behind the declining test scores. We believe she will be a strong leader able to speak her mind and ask difficult questions.

Marguerite Kaminski has served as a Whitefish School District trustee in the past. She is very knowledgeable about the process and brings with her extensive legal experience. She above all else wants to see the success of our students. She is committed to best practices including smaller sizes and academic focus. She believes that the district needs to restore fiscal accountability. We believe Marguerite will be a leader who is able to speak her mind and respectfully disagree.

Todd Lengacher would bring an educational background to the trustee position. He has lived in Whitefish for the past year, and has volunteered at Muldown. Todd is beginning to learn not only the challenges, but also the history of excellence in the district. He believes communication is the key to change and success in any system. Todd sees the strategic plan and curriculum alignment as among the most important issues the district is currently facing. We believe he will continue to learn and grow in regards to the district as be becomes more involved in our schools and community.

Nick Polumbus has served for the past six years as a trustee. He believes he brings a calm and level-headed demeanor to the board. Nick also feels a sense of unfinished business. In particular, he looks forward to seeing the Muldown project to completion, the district’s strategic plan becoming actionable, and a clear and aligned curriculum. We believe Nick will be steadfast in his goals regarding the district.

Kelly Talsma, Lisa Bloom and Kelly Haverlandt