Two school districts have contested trustee elections
HILARY MATHESON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 10 years, 11 months AGO
EDUCATION REPORTER Hilary Matheson covers education for the Daily Inter Lake. Her reporting focuses on schools, students, and the policies that shape public education across Northwest Montana. Matheson regularly reports on school boards, district decisions and issues affecting teachers and families. Her work examines how funding, enrollment and state policy influence local school systems. She helps readers understand how education decisions affect students and communities throughout the region. IMPACT: Hilary’s work provides transparency and insight into the schools that serve thousands of local families. | April 14, 2015 9:00 PM
Two Flatheads Valley school districts — Bigfork and Whitefish — have contested races for school board positions and will hold elections.
Only voters living in the elementary districts in Bigfork or Whitefish may vote in their respective school elections.
Although there are no contested races in Somers-Lakeside School District, there will be an election to seek voter approval of a $185,000 levy request.
Bigfork has one contested race for a three-year term representing the elementary district. Candidates are incumbent Maureen Averill and Christina Relyea.
Patricia Landon, who is unopposed for the high school district seat representing Swan River School, will be seated by acclamation.
Bigfork is holding a mail-ballot election. Ballots can be mailed to or dropped off at the district office. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day, May 5.
In Whitefish, candidates Bob Auerbach, Pat Jarvi and Marguerite Kaminski are running for two three-year terms representing the elementary district.
Also on the Whitefish ballot is a $36,000 levy request.
Polls in Whitefish will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 5 in the board room of the district office at 600 E. Second St., Whitefish.
The following school districts have canceled elections and will seat candidates by acclamation:
• Cayuse Prairie will seat Kevin Fox and Amy Ramer for three-year terms.
• Columbia Falls will seat Jill Rocksund and Jim Henjum for three-year terms.
• Creston will seat Austin Hughes for a three-year term. A one-year term remains open.
• Deer Park will seat Michael Pedersen and incumbent Harm Toren for three-year terms.
• Evergreen will seat Paul Wigle for a three-year term.
• Fair-Mont-Egan will seat Todd Spangler for a one-year term, Margo Dyer for a two-year term and Luke Vollertsen for a three-year term.
• Helena Flats will seat Kevin Fritz and KaiEllen Bucher for three-year terms.
• Kalispell Public Schools will seat Mary Ruby, Dave Schultz and Lance Isaack for three-year terms and Don Murray for a two-year term in the elementary district.
For the high school district, Joe Brenneman will be seated for a three-year term representing Cayuse Prairie, Creston, Deer Park and Fair-Mont-Egan schools.
• Kila will seat Lars Haagerup for a two-year term and Lanti Carlson and Michael Rauscher for one-year terms.
• Marion School District Board will seat Lily Brower and Glenn Hendershott for three-year terms and Kate Nelson for a one-year term.
• Olney-Bissell will seat incumbents Tim Bartholomew and Jeremy Scott for three-year terms and Tony Hagadone for a one-year term.
• Pleasant Valley will seat incumbent Jeremiah Metzler for a three-year term and Sharon Wilson to a two-year term.
• Smith Valley will seat incumbent Jerry Snell and Eric Mitchell for three-year terms.
• Somers-Lakeside will seat John Hollensteiner and Jeremiah Jennings.
• Swan River will seat incumbent Benjamin Haag and Jeremy Patton for three-year terms.
• West Glacier will seat Michele Colliander for a three-year term.
• West Valley will seat incumbents Jane Wheeler and Cory Hill for three-year terms.
Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at [email protected].
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