Thompson Falls school board talks elections

CORRECTION - It was incorrectly stated that two board members were vacating their positions. According to Thompson Falls District Superintendent, Jerry Pauli, Elementary School Principal Maureen Simonson and Special Education Director Jennifer Cline are currently interviewing for other positions, however, the district is offering them a new contract for next year. Valley Press apologizes for the mistake or any confusion caused by the error. 

THOMPSON FALLS – The Thompson Falls School Board of Trustees met Monday night and discussed student enrollment and budgeting for the upcoming school year.

Superintendent Jerry Pauli discussed enrollment and how the numbers presented affected the number of teachers needed to meet accreditation standards.

Based on 2012 to 2013 enrollment, first through fourth grades look sound based on the amount of students enrolled this year and the number of teachers provided to aid in the learning process. Enrollments for second and third grade are both sound from a learning perspective and a financial perspective

As for the other classes, either new teachers would need to be provided to meet the student per teacher quota or the classes would not be financially efficient.

For example, with enrollment falling where it is at currently in the first grade, the school district would need to have two classes for first graders with 12 students apiece. Pauli explained that although this would provide for a great learning experience, having two teachers who only teach 12 students each would be costly.

Next year the school will be losing two K through 8 teachers and partly because of that, the school needs to decide whether more teachers need to be hired and where cuts in the budget would help with this process.

Currently there is close to a $15,400 shortage in the budget a year which does not include salary increases for the staff, increases in district health insurance, counseling for special needs students and the mandated Affordable Care Act, which requires employees between 30 and 40 hours of work to receive health insurance.

“Funding Montana schools when the enrollment is not increasing or when it remains constant is not easy under our current funding system,” said Pauli. “When a district is losing students then the challenge becomes even greater.”

Possible solutions to the problem would be if Senate Bill 175 increased state funding, although Pauli said that it is unlikely. The district could cut back on elective classes, fill vacated slots internally and even combine two grade levels into one class, among other options.

The school board is also working to fill upcoming vacancies in the district and voted that for now they are going to advertise for a high school principal to fill Jason Slater’s position when he moves up to superintendent.

This way the district can look at applicants, while keeping the option of hiring internally open.

“These are always sad but exciting times,” said Pauli discussing the upcoming vacancies.

Elementary principal Maureen Simonson and Special Education Director Jennifer Cline will also be vacating their positions.

The board decided to open up elections for the next board of trustees to the community.

Three applicants applied for the positions, one to fill Lance Pavilik’s role on the board and another to fill Cline’s position. The two new trustees will fill a one-year and three-year term on the board. The candidates are John Beckman, Jeff Lundberg, and Mindi Wilson.

Elections will take place on Tues., May 7 at the Thompson Falls Community Center.

The board of trustees also hired Gary Thompson as head golf coach and Mike Bache as the assistant golf coach.