The athletic expansion of Whitefish High School has reached the halfway mark while the academic portion is at least 30% complete.  

Both are on schedule, said Luke Hamman, the project’s owner's representative, at the Sept. 8 Whitefish School Board meeting.  

The music, black box and cardio/wrestling rooms are being wrapped up. Paving for the new track is complete and surfacing will finish this month. The bleachers will be completed this month as well. 

Some piping is needed to get the school ready for heat, which should happen by the end of September. If not, Hamman said they are prepared with alternative methods if temperatures drop. 

Clocks across the school were disconnected for unexplained reasons, but the bells are still working. The system will be replaced next summer, Hamman said. 

Total spending is $10,372,086, which is 28% of the budget.

Principal Kerry Drown said the year is off to a great start, even amid the construction. 

The freshman class is on the cusp of the school’s largest ever, at 198 students. The sophomore class is large as well, in the upper 180s.  

"The energy is outstanding," Drown said. "Despite some of our challenges with parking, navigation, water dripping and some other things, they keep a great attitude... it's contagious."  

New to their roles, the other Whitefish school principals reflected positively on the start of the school year.  

Middle School Principal Tyler Jones said, "If you ever want a positive feeling, come walk through any of our buildings. I truly mean that." 

Jones said they had a few updates to the playground over the summer.  

Muldown Principal Jennifer Santora said they are starting the year energized with their motto, "Mullies lead the way."  

There are 50 new students and 19 new employees at Muldown. 

District wide, schools are implementing new curriculum this fall focusing on the whole student, with social and emotional instruction incorporated.  

On that vein, Whitefish Middle School psychologist Dana Remley updated the board on Multi-Tiered System of Supports.  

"We're looking at the health of our whole system; what is a big picture district-wide need. Over the last two years attendance has been a concern. Some tier 2 math has been a concern at a point," Remley said. "But mostly, our big picture takeaways are that we're doing really well... we want to maintain high standards of reading and math achievement."  

The district is also getting another boost for the new year with a $100,000 check from Whitefish Education Foundation's Make Music Resonate campaign to purchase instruments.   

Total district enrollment is holding steady at 1,930. 

The search for a new superintendent for 2027-28 is officially open.  

Over the summer, food services prepped a total of 13,021 meals for students at eight locations across the North Valley area. That included about 410 pounds of peanut butter.  

    An aerial view of Whitefish High School under its athletic and academic expansion projects on Aug. 26. (GravityShots.com photo)
  

    An aerial view of Whitefish High School under its athletic and academic expansion projects. More work has been completed since this photo was taken on Aug. 26. (GravityShots photo)
  

  

    Provided photo of the academic expansion at Whitefish High School.
  

    Grandstand installation for the athletic expansion at Whitefish High School. Photo provided.