School board approves transportation agreements, new hires

The Whitefish School Board approved several annual agreements, new hires and transfer students at its meetings in May and June.

According to enrollment data, from the beginning of the 2023-24 school year to the end, the number of students enrolled at Muldown Elementary and Whitefish Middle School stayed about the same, while Whitefish High School saw a 3.75% drop, although that is relatively normal. The 2022-23 school year saw the same trend with a 4% drop at the high school.

However, both district wide and at the high school, the 2023-24 school year started with more students enrolled, so the 2024 end of year total enrollment is still greater – 2.8% district wide.  

At both meetings, all out-of-district students who are currently enrolled students that reapplied for next year were unanimously accepted. The policy is that out-of-district students must reapply every year.  

“We have an increase in transnational families due to housing difficulties. So I appreciate the school board offering stability to out-of-district students,” said Adrienne Odell of the Whitefish Education Association on May 14.  

In terms of approving new out-of-district students for the next year, Whitefish Superintendent Dave Means said the district is approaching the 87% cap, based on a student-teacher ratio. According to Means, that is normal.

Other recent actions included the approval of purchases for new English and language arts materials for all grades for next school year.

Annual agreements to provide students with opportunities for shared buses to transport Whitefish School District students to Olney-Bissell School District and vice versa were renewed.  

The annual Evergreen Flathead Crossroads Interlocal Agreement was also reapproved. This provides a continuum of extra support for students with special needs and individualized learning plans.  

There were several resignations and new hires approved.

New hires of note at the high school include Shaun Forrest as head golf coach, Eric Sawtelle as the boys head soccer coach and Kelly Ordway as the girls head soccer coach.

With the reapproval of coaches’ “extra-duty” positions, Whitefish High School Principal Kerry Drown spoke in high praise of the influence coaches have on students during their formative years.