Plains Schools eliminate speech therapist position

The April Plains School Board trustees unanimously voted to eliminate the speech therapist position currently held by Lisa Burnham last Monday.

In a letter written by Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Walsh, who was not present at the meeting, and read by Board Chair Lana Dicken, Walsh recommended the action.

“Dear Ms. Dicken, I am recommending that the trustees at Plains School District terminate Lisa Burnham from her position as a speech pathologist pursuant to section 20-4-204 Montana Code Annotated. The purpose of this letter is to give notice to you and other trustees and to Lisa Burnham for the following reasons,” Walsh wrote.

“The board of trustees voted to join the Cabinet Mountain Special Cooperative to provide comprehensive and intensive services to the students of the Plains School District,” the letter continued, “In doing so, it eliminated the need for Ms. Burnham’s position. This is a reduction in force."

“I did not receive official notice or communication from the district about my position being eliminated until March 17 when the business manager hand delivered a termination notice to me,” Burnham commented in an email. 

Burnham has been employed as a speech therapist for the Plains School District for 15 years. Prior to that she worked for the district as a one-one aide for special education. After leaning about her position being eliminated Burnham felt that her best course would be to retire early.

Cabinet Mountain Cooperative is based out of Thompson Falls and provides speech therapy and Title IX services to participating school districts.

School board members also approved an action to restructure the two principal roles and duties. The current two-principal model will be reduced to one full-time principal and one part-time principal. The part-time principal’s duties will be assigned by the new superintendent Ryan Rettig. Rettig bring to the Plains district 25 years of educational experience and will be starting his new position July 1.

During public discussion, Beth Meaden, a fourth-grade teacher in the Plains School District, raised concerns about the change.

“The half-time principal is still going to be working full time? I might be biased. I have been a little bit stressed of having a part-time elementary principal based on how many times we as teachers, frankly, need assistance with difficult students with Mr. Meredith,” Meaden said. “Sometimes we need immediate help.”

In other business, the board recognized several SkillsUSA contestants for their honors at the recent state competition. Those students were Asher Seymour, Clint Weedeman, Ireland Corbin, Shay Nelson and Halle Collett. and Emmy Russell. Seymour also qualified to attend the national competition.

Board members approved several additional measures, including joining the Montana Rural Education Association Cooperative, selecting health plan options for Bridge Health Alliance, and approving out-of-district students.

In preparation for the school’s summer program, the following individuals were hired: Larri-Jo Christensen as summer food program supervisor; Laurie Ann Hemiston as part-time server and part-time cook; Jeanine Cook as substitute server; Tyrel Allen as summer program high school credit recovery supervisor; Shelby Schwall as lead summer program coordinator; and Jill Louws, Angela Altizer, Jackie Deery, Ricki Kulawinski and Danielle Paquet as summer program support staff.

    Skills USA State competition winners Asher Seymour, Clint Weedeman, Ireland Corbin, Shay Nelson and Halle Collett. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)