EXTENDED Proposed Polson admin move causes uproar

POLSON — Reacting to a week full of discussion, rumors and heated tempers, Polson Superintendent David Whitesell took center stage in front of a packed Linderman library first thing at the regular Polson School Board of Trustees meeting to announce no administrative staff moves would be made within the schools.

The announcement came after outcry from a proposed plan that included moving Polson Middle School Assistant Principal Tom DiGiallonardo to head Linderman Elementary School.

Current Linderman principal Steve York will leave on Jan. 22 for a job at the Office of Public Instruction.

Instead, Whitesell announced that school math coach Cherie Stobie would take over as Linderman’s interim principal, with DiGiallonardo and Cherry Valley Principal Elaine Meeks staying where they are. 

Whitesell prefaced the announcement with the note that his plan, which had received so much backlash, had been an attempt to alleviate the staff recruiting and retention challenges the district faces by utilizing current staff. He said attempting to fill an administrative position during the middle of the school year complicated the matter. The “challenges” also include “turf warfare” over resources because of the “four district” atmosphere that he feels is perpetuated by the four different schools in Polson.

He also said his decision came after in-depth discussion with the administrators and was made to keep his word to one administrator.

An earlier special meeting had also included the discussion after York’s vacancy was announced. The item was not on Monday’s agenda, but more than a dozen residents spoke on the issue on Monday, as did almost every trustee.

Several teachers from Polson Middle School, along with residents, fiercely defended the pair of DiGiallondardo and PMS principal Brian Adams as quality role models who exemplify integrity. “The school dynamic is as healthy as it’s been since I’ve been here,” 19-year PMS fifth grade science teacher Charles Bertsch said.

Other comments followed this theme of keeping “what is working” intact.

However, trustee Vernon Finley said residents should be more open to change. Currently, he said, at the four schools, or “districts,” “everyone falls into their little holes.” He said he supported Whitesell’s attempt to “think outside the box” with his plan to move administrators. More change with administrators could better connect the district, Finley said.

Former trustee Bob Hanson spoke several times, responding to Finley’s idea by saying following blindly was not the answer.

Trustee Elke Allik said moves like this were common “stop-gap” measures and in this case kept the entire district’s well-being in mind.

Trustee Theresa Taylor said she agreed a male influence was important, but having a “seasoned” administrator move into the position may have helped the transition.

Also questioned was the openness of the decision making process. Trustee Caryl Cox said all members of the board were not consulted. Trustee John Laimbeer reminded the audience the superintendent did not need its approval to make temporary moves. Although, he said, he would have been concerned with the possible moves because he believed some information Whitesell had received to make his proposal was erroneous.

Resident Dr. Dan Rausch said he was concerned there weren’t alternatives presented or enough communication between parties before the plan was proposed.

Dr. Kelly Bagnell questioned the “environment” that caused a person like York to leave.

Another dispute centered around whether the moves had been presented as temporary (for the remainder of the school year) or permanent.

Adding to the tension was an act of vandalism that took place during the weekend.

Whitesell’s front yard had been vandalized sometime before Saturday afternoon with signs reading “Go home” and “Go back.”

Polson police are investigating the incident, but as of Monday had no suspects or motive. Whitesell took over as superintendent in June, relocating from Twin Bridges.

Denny Lockwood stood during the middle of the public comment to call the act “embarrassing to the community of Polson.” He said to Whitesell he was sorry it happened.

“Whoever did that, I hope they catch them,” he said.

In other board news, Whitesell said 24 paper applications had been received for the high school principal position. The pool had been narrowed to four, who began the interview process on Wednesday.

Rob Hankins the superintendent in Simms, Jim Howard, a principal in Fort Benton, Thom Peck, a principal in Three Forks and Tom Wissink, a high school assistant principal in Oshkosh, Wis., will be interviewed.

More than 140 staff, residents and parents responded to surveys with comments and potential questions for the candidates. “It was an excellent source of information,” Whitesell said.

It was also decided that the district would discontinue formal Quaglia instruction. The Quaglia Institute is a non-profit dedicated to promoting and putting into practice the conditions that foster student aspirations in schools the district had been working with.

In school reports, PMS teacher, Clay Herring and a student presented a short video from the Pirate News Network. They talked about what students learn in the class and the challenges of creating the news program. High School Report:Athletic Director, Scott Wilson reported on the six proposed changes to the MHSA rules. Cherry Valley and Linderman Report: Principal Elaine Meeks, Trustee Vernon Finley and several teachers are working on a Kootenai Language curriculum. The new curriculum will be implemented next fall for K - 4.

Committee Reports: The Board and PCEA are still meeting on the PCEA contract. The next meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21, at the District Office

Superintendent’s yard vandalized

POLSON — Polson Police are investigating the vandalism of Polson School Superintendent David Whitesell’s front yard over the weekend.

Chief Doug Chase said that real estate signs with “Go back” and “Go home” written on them were placed in Whitesell’s yard sometime before Saturday afternoon.

Tempers had flared at an special district school board meeting last week over possible administrative moves Whitesell had proposed after Linderman Elementary School Principal Steve York announced he was leaving to accept a job with the Office of Public Instruction.

Many opposed the possible moves, one which would have moved Polson Middle School assistant principal Tom Digiallondo to Linderman, and spoke again during a packed regular board meeting on Monday night.

At the beginning of the meeting Whitesell announced no moves would be made.

Later, he told the Leader he believed the signs were in reference to this situation, saying his family knows that the action is not reflective of Polson. He joked that it was probably “people from Ronan.”

Police are continuing to investigate, but have no suspects at this time.

-Reporter Aimee Niles, with Jenna Cederberg