Board's action seems suspect
Editor,
I am always suspicious of salespeople who try to rush me into buying their product without giving me time to think about it, particularly when they seem to be completely uninterested in my needs and questions about their product. Somehow there is never time to think with these guys — the sale is always an emergency, and has to happen right that second.
As a parent of a student in Polson, I'm feeling much the same way about our school board's recent decision to reconfigure our district: rushed and ignored. And yes, a little suspicious, too.
The announcement of the school board's meeting to discuss and vote on this issue was given Friday afternoon before the three-day Memorial Weekend. The meeting was scheduled for the Tuesday immediately following the holiday. Does the timing of this notice invite participation? Does it invite careful consideration and community input?
Even with that short notice, many concerned parents and citizens attended the meeting and voiced concerns and questions, but the board evidently felt that there was no time or need to consider any of the community input. The vote had to happen right that second, and did — so that's that, I guess. They have their reasons; they have the power, so who cares what parents think?
Whether reconfiguration is a good idea or not, I don't know. I haven't been presented with the arguments for and against it yet — have you? For all I know, reconfiguration of our schools could be the greatest thing since the idea of "due process" in a Democratic society.
Of course there's been no due process here: No information given, and no time to think about it. Isn't it the job of our elected school board to represent our needs and concerns? If so, why do they seem so uninterested in them?
Please join me in requesting that our school board rescind their decision until proper research has been conducted, the research examined, and the voices of the district's teachers and parents have been heard.
Claudia Cunningham
Polson
Big Arm declares 'war' on Polson
Editor,
This is an open declaration of war between the city states of Big Arm and Polson, Montana. The Valley is not big enough for two thriving and all powerful metropolises in the area. It is by decree that the self-appointed mayor and despot dictator Paulus Maurerus of Big Arm declares there needs to be a WATER war of volunteer armies between Big Arm and Polson on June 30, 2007, with the site of the battles on the plains of Big Arm, Montana.
To the victor go the spoils, which will be a huge traveling trophy filled with jellybeans.
WATER battles will begin after the re-dedication of the Big Arm fire house which will take place between 10 and 11 a. m. Beginning at 11 a.m., there will be a battle every half-hour until 4 p.m. The winning army of each battle will be determined by an unbiased judge selected by the fair and balanced despot dictator Paulus Maurerus.
The army that wins the most battles will win the war and will be able to covet the gigantic opulent traveling trophy for the year and, of course, eat the jelly beans.
Water weapons can be purchased or leased for the duration of each battle. A bucket of water balloons can be purchased for $3 for each battle or a super soaker water cannon can be rented for $5.
The few but mighty Big Arm combatants are all related to the Spartans of Greek fame and feel Polson will be unable to raise an army out of fear to fight on the plains of Big Arm.
No doubt they will have to hire mercenaries to fill their ranks. If Polson cannot raise an army, we will march on Polson, keep our traveling trophy and eat all the jelly beans in front of you!
Oh how shameful it will be if Polson cannot muster an army!
There will be a hamburger fry beginning at 11 a.m., silent auction, crafts sale, foot races and other games for kids to keep the innocents off the battle field. Of course there is no charge for watching the Polson army get annihilated, oh I mean soaked. The few Polson combatants that do show will no doubt go home with their heads hung low, water balloon debris (rubber) stuck in their hair and wet.
All burger fry proceeds will go to the Polson Rural Fire Department and all other funds will go to the Big Arm Association, which is supporting the Rural Fire Department and is trying to save the old Big Arm School House that was built in 1913.
Bring your family for the first annual Plains of Big Arm WATER war which is open to all ages. Let the fun begin on June 30 at 10 a.m.
This proclamation signed on the 17th day of May in two thousand and seven by the self appointed Mayor and Despot Dictator of Big Arm.
Paulus Maurerus
Big Arm
Freedom Day was beneficial to all
Editor:
Weekend activities in Polson surrounding Memorial Day truly revealed the fabric of our town and surrounding area.
The highly documented undertaking, the brainchild of Rick Skates of First Citizens Bank, is what a small town does best — bring people of different persuasions together.
The thousands who showed their mettle by journeying out under threatening skies to honor those who have fallen in the service of our country etched an indelible mark on our collective soul. The weekend was not about politics. It was not to show support of war but to recognize those who serve and the sacrifices they make.
Dialogue was not required. Doves and hawks and those in between stood shoulder to shoulder. It gave us all a reason to be so proud and to hold your head high. Thank you.
Mick Holien
Polson
Tribes show they could manage NBR
Editor,
"When the white man came, seems like we the Indians were gathered up. Seems as if we were corralled, brought into a place where we were to live," reminisced a Pend d'Oreille elder not long ago. In a way, history is sadly repeating itself on the Bison Range.
But this time it's the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that has rounded up the buffalo and locked out the Salish, Kootenai, and Pend d'Oreille peoples from their rightful place on their own land. Unfortunately, those voices opposing the tribes' efforts to manage the natural resources of the Bison Range seem to forget where they live — the Flathead Indian Reservation.
It comes as no surprise how often I receive quizzical looks from people when I mention that we live on an Indian reservation. Others say, sure, but the Indians sold their land, fair and square. Not so, I reply, at least not by choice.
The same tribal elder explained, "The white man told us, this is to be your Indian land, your Reservation. It is where you will live. Then they set it up, surveyed it into 80 acres [tracts], to be our land, to be for our own, for each of us to possess individually. It was a vast area of land, and there was a lot left over after they gave us those pieces, and the white people arranged it so that we sold the land, we sold it, and it was bought by the white man, and they came in and crowded us out."
It's plain to see that the sale of reservation lands — including the 18,500 acres that became the Bison Range — was imposed upon Indian people without their consent.
The dismissal of tribal employees from their jobs at the Bison Range and the plan to reduce the bison herd is simply the latest chapter in the long, shameful story of the tribes being deprived of their fundamental right to control their own lives, ancestral lands, and natural resources.
Even though each tribe is culturally unique, they all share a deep spiritual connection to their land. Always planning for seven generations ahead, their thoughtful and sustainable stewardship of the land and its natural resources has made the Flathead Indian Reservation a great place to live for everyone, tribal and non-tribal people alike.
The Kootenai, Pend d'Oreille, and Salish peoples know how to manage bison. The tribes have demonstrated they can work cooperatively with a variety of agencies to the benefit of us all — Mission Valley Power, clean water and a stellar sports fishery in Flathead Lake, healthy forests, fire management, wilderness areas, and environmental restoration are but a few. Why should the Bison Range be different?
Comes a time, when it's time to make things right. Now is such a time. Write our members of Congress, legislative leaders, the Governor, etc. If you live on the reservation, reflect on why you live here. If you believe in fair play and giving credit where credit is due, send the tribes a thank you note — it's the least you can do.
Jim Rogers
Polson
PHS students were good ambassadors
Editor,
To the Polson Community:
Yesterday, Hamilton School District elementary schools celebrated American Indian Traditions Day. Twenty-five Polson High School students under the direction of Pearl Yellowman-Caye and Leslie Caye made the long drive to teach 600 of our students traditional games. They were joined by four SKC students who provided drum music and singing. The Polson students and chaperones were exemplary ambassadors of Indian heritage and the warmth and welcoming character of the Polson community.
The high school and college students laughed, played, and sang while explaining how to play whip the snake, shinny, double ball, the stick game, run and scream, friendship bracelets, and round dancing. Our young students, grades 1-5, listened with rapt attention as these young teachers told of the background of the games. The day ended with all 600 students in a round dance accompanied by the sound of drums and singing.
We wish to thank the Cayes and other chaperones for all of their efforts in coordinating this fun and educational event. Also, thanks goes to the Polson High School vice principal and staff for their flexibility and support. But mostly, we would like to thank the young adults from Polson High School. They represented themselves, their tribe, and their community well. The Polson community should be very proud.
Kathleen Dent
Hamilton School District
Indian Education for All Coordinator
Hamilton
Wal-Mart to be an election issue
Editor,
With Polson city elections coming up on Nov. 6, 2007, I am concerned that we elect City Council members who are dedicated to the public and environmental interest of Polson and its unique quality of life. And this requires that they be responsive to public participation — and not to a developmental mentality towards a Denver.
I was both disappointed and shocked about how the present Polson City Council handled the issue of the Wal-Mart Super Center, especially public participation, which some council members appear to have considered a farce. Currently, this issue is in court with the City Council as defendants.
The Polson City Council members who voted for the Wal-Mart zone change were Fred Funke, Tom Corse, Jules Clavadetscher, and Bruce Agrella. The two who voted against it were Mark MacDonald and Mike Lies.
In two long evenings of public hearings (with heavy attendance) scheduled by the Polson City Council and the City/County Planning Board, which does not have a professionally trained director, the overwhelming majority of the public opposed the proposed Wal-Mart Super Center on environmental, water concerns, quality of life, pollution, loss of small businesses and property values, and other legitimate concerns.
Based on professional studies circulated to council members, the public brought up very serious issues such as the threat of hazardous materials flooding (as happened in other Wal-Marts) into the watershed and Flathead Lake, the lack of water quantity and quality (past city council meeting records reveal serious concerns about water shortages with a "Band-Aid approach" even without Wal-Mart Super Center, etc.). Yet there was very little questioning, let alone interest in these vital issues by the city council members. There was also some intimidation by one of the council members who did approach myself and others in a threatening manner during testimony when we were making our closing remarks under the three minute constraints.
At the close of the second public hearing, the mayor motioned to get all three measures, including the Wal-Mart zone change, passed in about five minutes with no discussion by the city council members. Most of the public felt it was a "done deal" with important issues (that would raise red flags with most city councils) not really being considered and with public participation discounted and ignored.
Elections are only a small part of democracy which is based on carrying out what the public really wants and needs — what is really good for the people and the land. It requires responsiveness to public participation and to environmental constraints and quality in the public interest. We need to elect city council members who are responsive to the public and to their serious concerns — and not to developmental pressures. Otherwise, democracy becomes a farce.
Daniel H. Henning
Polson
Polson AL poppy drive was successful
Editor,
The American Legion Auxiliary Hardwick Post 112 thanks everyone for their support again this year for our Montana veterans with your donations from our poppies. Tanks so very much again.
Nina Milton,
Polson
Reconfiguration is opposed
Editor,
On May 29 the Board of School District #23 in Polson voted to reconfigure the two K-4 elementary schools, after hours of public comment and questioning in opposition to the proposal, which came without warning, explanation, reason, plan, or public discussion. The turnout consisted largely of those parents, staff, and others who had been informed of a special board meeting days before by word of mouth or PTO announcement.
The reconfiguration would rearrange grade levels at the two schools so that they would be consecutive instead of parallel — Cherry Valley School would become Pre-K through first grade, Linderman School second through fourth.
Parents were unable to extract an explanation from the board, a reason for the change, or a plan for implementation. No questions were answered at the meeting, and board members voted without discussing the issue publicly. Many oppose the reconfiguration on the grounds that it is a step backward in the educational progress of the district, and contrary to current educational research findings and recommendations.
A previous reconfiguration of the schools had taken the schools in the opposite direction — resulting in the current configuration — after a debate involving discussion of current research in education. No such discussion took place preceding this vote.
Parents of both schools are angered and disturbed by the precipitous and irresponsible behavior of the board, and are planning action to encourage the board to reverse their decision or to remove them if necessary.
For more information about the public grievances and the actions of the board, please visit the parents' blog at mrlinsky.com and the board's website, http://www.polson.k12.mt.us/District23/greetings/board.html
Kristen Bissaillon
District #23 parent
Polson
Kindness shown in dog's death
Editor,
Last week our beloved chocolate Lab, Scooter, was purposefully and viciously run down on Highway 93 N., near our home. The driver never attempted to stop to avoid hitting him, while traffic on the opposite side of the road did.
We can't believe that people will stop or slow down if they see a deer in the road but they won't for a dog.
We thank the wonderful lady who saw our dogs and stopped to try to get them. You are an angel. She did rescue our Sasha, but was unable to get Scooter before the "hit and run" driver killed him. Many thanks to you, dear lady.
Thank you to the wonderful gentlemen who also came back to help. We don't know their names but they will know who they are and know how grateful we are for their kindness and caring.
Also to the kind woman who witnessed the incident and came back to offer condolences, thank you so much for your kind words.
It is so heartwarming to know that in this world we live in, where we hear about so many bad things that happen, that there are still people out there who care. This is what makes our community so great.
Again, sincere thanks to all of you.
Mark and Wendy Fairchild
Polson School board's actions not wise
Editor,
I need to begin by stating that I am not opposed to either full time kindergarten or even a reconfiguration of the two schools. What I have a problem with is the trustees' effort to avoid providing the public details for their reasoning and their elimination of public input of suggestions and alternatives.
Your rules as a school board require you to solicit public opinion on decisions you make regarding the district. As trustees, you agreed to these rules when you accepted your position (refer to the Policies and Procedures Manual — Code of Ethics for School Board Members, paragraph 2). Making sweeping and permanent decisions based on nothing more than administrative requests (I see no evidence of any trustee study/effort — by their own admission) and without soliciting feedback/suggestions from your constituents is nothing short of incompetence. And quite frankly, the manner in which this decision was made makes this whole thing look rather deviant. This, I can tell you, is an opinion shared by a large group of parents from both schools as well as school district residents.
Trustees make decisions for the district based on a combination of input from administration as well as their constituents. The administrators are hired by and work for the school board. The trustees are effectively hired by the constituents. Let's not forget who you as trustees and administrators work for and who needs to provide input prior to any decision making.
Time constraints for funding is an invalid argument. All that was required by the district was to indicate an intent to move to a full time kindergarten, which had five years to be put into place — plenty of time for public input and funding would still arrive almost immediately.
Regarding soliciting public input, sure, a notification was sent out Friday for Tuesday's meeting (over a three-day holiday) to limited recipients. Many perceive this as a thinly veiled effort to slide it in under the radar with most district residents while still cover yourselves over the notification. Whatever the intention, it has an unsavory appearance.
I would strongly encourage you, as a school board, to revisit your decision/vote and open up a public dialog in an effort to save face and head off a rather large and loud public outcry. The public's trust in you hangs in the balance.
Robert Nice
Polson
Well, he missed hitting the deer
Editor,
Several weeks ago I received a call from one of the officers in a car club that is located in your community, of which I am a member.
I was asked if I would donate my time and the use of my vehicle to chauffeur military dignitaries in a Memorial Day pride. This car club had been requested by Polson's parade event officials to perform this task.
Being a former Marine, I was happy to volunteer. I was asked to be there around 9 a.m. so that the car could be decorated for the event.
Many hours were spent cleaning, waxing and detailing the car. On the appointed morning, I fueled the car (these things don't run on regular), and headed for Polson.
Upon arrival I greeted several members of the car club and was directed to a registration line at the school. While waiting in line, I noticed most, if not all, of the cars leave the area. I was soon to find out why. After waiting in line for quite some time, I was informed by the ladies that they had no record of me or the club. I was told, "Sorry, 'bye."
Shortly thereafter, two of the officers of the club returned and entered into the school whereupon they engaged one of the officials over the state of this situation. It soon became apparent that someone had acquired and decorated a number of Jeeps for this task and we were told that we could hang around and hop in at the end of the parade.
Let me see: I was being told to stand around for three hours so that I could join the end of the parade. No thanks.
I wasn't the only one to drive off. But I had the longest trip — 65 miles. After missing a pair of does at Big Arm and plowing through a thunderstorm in Lakeside, my wife asked me if I had a good morning.
"Well, Dear," I responded, "it was good morning. I missed the deer."
Don Avery
Kalispell
Mission Skate Park deserves support
Editor,
I am writing this letter in regards to Kristie Nerby's letter and how she and the St. Ignatius people have come up with more things for our children to enjoy and have a safe place to play. I give her and her friends a lot of High Fives for what they are trying to accomplish for the children's safety and well being.
All the families and friends that I've talked with, think it's cool. I just turned 50 this year and am raising a child (one son) alone and am forever making sure that he is safe when he is out playing.
You don't know how many children here in Mission play in the streets with their bikes and skate boards. Kids have wrecked in front of me on their pedal bikes. I almost hit a kid coming back from the store when he took a spill in front of my car and another car. I just thought one of us could have killed this kid if we weren't watching. Think what might have happened if it was a drunk driver or a speeder when this happened.
Today, a little boy took a spill on the road in front me; he lay on the ground a couple of minutes before he could get up. Just think if he didn't have those two minutes, and if I were not a sober driver.
Children around our neighborhoods are using the roads for a better place to play because of the surface.
I drop money in veterans' coin bottles whenever I can when I see one. Now I also have not only our past and present veterans to honor and support, but I support the SkateIgnatius project for good of our future generations and protectors of our country. Lord, "Great Spirit," willing not another conflict…
I pray that your dreams will be fulfilled for all of our children's safety and happiness.
Doug Matt, St. Ignatius
All these high schoolers did well
Editor,
I'm writing this letter to say congratulations to the Mission Bulldogs for all their hard work during the school year. To the Bulldog football team, great job; to the girls volleyball team, great job on going to district, and divisional; to the boys and girls basketball teams, great job on going to district and divisional; to the girls softball team for going to district, divisional, and going all the way to state; to the girls and boys tennis, great job on going to district, divisional, and state.
Congratulations to Casey Cable for winning the state B/C boys tennis title for your Mission Bulldogs — way to go! Congratulations to all the seniors of the Class 2007 wherever your dreams take you on your journey after high school; you can do anything after high school. To Reece Bailey, you did a great job as the Bulldogs Mascot.
Now I would like to say congratulations to the Classes of 2007 of Polson, Ronan, Charlo, Mission, and Arlee high schools — way to go.
Lynn Delecaris, St. Ignatius
PHS track team is congratulated
Editor,
We want to express how proud we are of the Polson track team. The girls did an awesome job in the 1600 and 400 relays by taking first and congratulations to our daughter in placing in the 300 hurdles.
We as parents also express our gratitude for the coaches this year. Thanks for taking time to be there for them.
Ann and James Gieber,
Polson