Whitefish Schools to hold election for trustee positions, operating levy

Whitefish School District will hold its annual school election on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at the District Office.

This year, there are four trustee candidates running for three open positions as well as a voter-approved levy for $231,766. The levy is a general operating levy for the school district that will cover staff salary increases and additional staffing needs, according to Whitefish School District business clerk Lucie Shea.

This will break down as a tax increase of $6.82 per year for owners of homes with assessed values of $200,000 and up to $10.23 per year for owners of homes with values of $300,000.

This is the first time in three years that the Whitefish School District has sought a voter-approved levy during a school election. Increased enrollment and Covid-19 emergency funds have made it possible for the district not to seek a general operating levy in recent years.

Of the four candidates running for the position of Whitefish School Board trustee, three are incumbents. Current Board Chair Katie Clarke, trustee Shannon Hanson and trustee Jerrie Boksich are all seeking re-election. New candidate Judy Hessellund is also running for a trustee position.

Hessellund ran for Whitefish City Council in 2021 but was not successful in a very competitive race with nine people running for three open seats. At the time Hessellund told the Pilot that she moved here in 2002. Hessellund is a real estate broker and owner of Red Bearon Real Estate. She has volunteered at a women’s shelter and for DREAM Adaptive. She also previously served on the Whitefish Planning Board.

According to the Whitefish School District website, Clarke is a communication researcher and also teaches communication courses at the college level. She is a mother to two Whitefish Schools students. On her trustee profile, it says Clarke’s goal as a school board member is to “advocate for every student to have the most positive and high-quality educational experience possible.” Clarke was first elected to the board in 2017.

Boksich has resided in Whitefish since 1967 and both she and her husband taught in Whitefish schools for their entire teaching careers. Boksich has served on local and state Reading Councils, served as the local American Cancer Society education director for several years and also served on the Alpine Theater Project Board of Directors. Her WSD trustee profile says, “Jerrie’s commitment to providing excellent education for the students of Whitefish was the reason for her desire to serve on the Whitefish School Board.”

Hanson is a Montana native who has lived in Whitefish for more than 30 years. According to his WSD trustee profile, Hanson enjoys cooking and being outdoors, and has won awards for his writing and photography. He has two sons who graduated from Whitefish High School.

The election will be held on May 2 at the Whitefish School District Board Room, 600 East Second Street. The election is in person this year and the polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 2 for residents to cast their vote. Ballots for those registered as absentee should have already hit the mailboxes in Whitefish and are due back to the Whitefish School District Office by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

For more information on the election call the district office at 862-8640.