The month of May brought tumultuous turnover within the Hot Springs School District, including the abrupt departure of its superintendent and the resignation of the system’s new clerk and business manager.  

Former Superintendent Gerald Chouinard, whose last day was scheduled for June 30 after he resigned in March, quit without warning on May 18. The announcement came later that day at a special school board meeting, when trustees were scheduled to discuss placing Chouinard on an administrative leave of absence, among other personnel issues, according to the meeting agenda.  

Interim Superintendent Mike Cutler, who was hired five days earlier, stepped in to take over for Chouinard on May 19, said Board Chair Jennifer Christensen. Cutler’s original start day was July 1, and he is contracted to serve as a half-time superintendent for the 2026-27 school year.  

The school board hired Sam Hoff, whose experience includes three years as an elementary school in Hot Springs and two years teaching fifth through sixth grade at Dixon Public Schools, on May 26 as a full-time principal. Hoff will earn an annual salary of $78,000, according to a contract posted on the school board’s website. 

THE SANDERS County rural school district launched its second search within a year for a permanent clerk and business manager after Bradley Pride resigned from the position on May 26, effective June 30.  

“While it has been a fascinating experience and an honor to work with nearly everyone, I will not be renewing my contract with Hot Springs Schools for the 2026-2027 school year,” he wrote in his resignation letter.  

Pride, who was hired by the school board in February, asked the school board finance committee for a $65,000 salary for the 2026-27 school year, according to a letter included in the finance committee’s May 11 meeting documents.  

The finance committee said it would launch a 90-day performance evaluation before negotiating Pride’s contract and salary, according to Christensen. He resigned less than two weeks after the meeting. 

The 90-day evaluation was part of Pride’s original contract, which included a $50,000 annual salary with full benefits, Christensen said. School board trustees on Wednesday will consider an interim contract with ANB Consulting, Inc. to perform clerk and business manager duties until a permanent replacement is found.  

Three people have rotated through the clerk and business manager position since Carmen Jackson resigned from the role last August amid an audit investigation.  

A report released in September accused Jackson of embezzling grant money, giving herself unapproved payroll advances and making personal purchases with the school’s credit cards. The investigation was handed over to the Sanders County Attorney’s Office in October.  

Barkley Flynn was hired in August to temporarily replace Jackson while the school board searched for a permanent candidate. However, his contract was terminated by trustees on Nov. 3 following allegations that he failed to pay the bills on time.  

He was replaced by Gwyn Anderson from ANB Consulting, who was contracted by the school to train and assist Flynn. Anderson had raised the allegations that resulted in Flynn’s termination. 

RESIGNATION LETTERS from two teachers were also announced at the May 13 school board meeting: Sixth grade teacher Glenda Stickel and Athletic Director Brady Ovitt, who taught junior high history and high school business and computer applications. 

Stickel left the school due to outside factors, according to her resignation letter. Ovitt cited increasing concerns “with the direction and culture within the district" in his resignation letter. 

“I believe meaningful cultural change is necessary,” Ovitt wrote. “I have also experienced a lack of confidence in the financial transparency and decision-making of the board and the district as a whole, which has greatly contributed to my decision.” 

Report for America Reporter Hannah Shields can be reached at 406-758-4439 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.