Principal promotes reading through rooftop vigil

Sometimes it takes motivation to hit the books.

St. Ignatius Elementary students had plenty during the month of February after receiving an offer not many children would refuse: making their principal sleep on the school roof during the middle of winter.

Principal Tyler Arlint challenged his students to read 2,000 books during national “I Love To Read Month.” That mark was met last week and, true to form, Arlint kept his end of the bargain.

“I’ve got water, a sleeping bag and a cup of noodles,” Arlint called to the crowd of students gathered to watch him scale a ladder to his rooftop refuge.

Although this is Arlint’s first year as principal at his hometown school, he has a reputation for taking learning to great heights.

Secretary Connie Marchant said this is the sixth time Arlint has slept on top of a school during his education career.

“I think there’s something wrong with him,” she said.

The origins of the stunt actually date back to when Arlint himself was a student at St. Ignatius Elementary. Marchant said the principal at the time, Dave Werdin, was known for enticing students through impressive undertakings, including walking to Missoula and conoeing across Flathead Lake.

“He was kind of (Arlint’s) idol,” she said.

Indeed, Lake County Leader archives from Jan. 30, 1992, contain a story about Werdin’s 24-hour rooftop vigil after the school’s students read 100,000 pages.

Werdin told the Leader that despite enduring high winds and cold temperatures, the feat was worth it “to get kids excited about reading.”

This enthusiasm remains 25 years later.

Students Madisyn Evelo and Paisley Couture said they each read four chapter books as part of the challenge.

But despite their excitement to see their principal on top of the roof, the girls were a little lost for words when asked how they thought Arlint would spend his time.

“I don’t know,” Evelo said. “Probably sleep.”

That guess proved correct. In a Facebook video posted the following morning, a sleepy-looking Arlint described waking to the sound of giggling lunch ladies, scaling the ladder to bring him a much needed cup of hot chocolate.