HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – The Havre Public Schools Board of Trustees convened for their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday evening and discussed a variety of topics.
In his Superintendent Report, Craig Mueller presented the High School Plan of Action in the wake of Principal Ed Norman’s recent resignation.
Mueller says the Administrative team will cover the Principal position for the time being. This includes the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Special Services Director, and Middle School Assistant Principal.
The District has posted a job opening for a High School Interim Administrator. This position will provide administrative support to the Assistant Principal and administration of the high school program, with a start date beginning immediately upon hiring and concluding on June 3rd, 2022.
The Student Handbook Committee will commence in January, with teachers serving on it to refine procedures at HHS.
When it comes to lunch supervision, three high school teachers currently supervise lunch daily. Mueller is requesting an additional two teachers to supervise the hallways during the lunch period.
Mueller also announced that they are in conversations with Empower Montana to have them provide professional development with the district.
Mueller says Empower Montana last worked with the district in 2010, and they are working on a schedule to provide professional development to students and stuff in the coming months.
Public Comment
Former Havre High School Football Coach Ryan Gatch spoke during the public comment period of the meeting. He was cut off by Chair Curtis Smeby when he complained about the process that led to the end of his tenure as head coach. He then transitioned into touting the athletic and academic accomplishments of the football team. He also said he would like to see School Board policies change so that there is a forum to bring up these matters, as he said the decision not to renew his contract was made by administration without the chance for him to have a rebuttal.
Maura Gatch, Ryan’s wife, also spoke out at the meeting, as did a High School sophomore. They were cut off by Smeby when they began to speak about personnel matters.
Other Action Taken or items discussed:
- The approval or an Introduction to Computers in the High School course catalog for Spring 2022 as a dual-credit opportunity with MSU-Northern. The proposed course is equivalent to Introduction to Computers at MSU-Northern and uses “a literary-based approach to survey the computer and the computer industry.” Mueller says the cost of adding the course will be taken from an OPI Advanced Opportunity Grant. This class was recommended by High School Business and Computer Teacher Anna Spoja.
- Approval of the release of the Board Performance Assessment and Board Meeting Evaluation Instruments. These will be distributed at the January meeting and results will be discussed at the January Board Planning Workshop.
- Approval of a request to allow the High School A Cappella Choir to attend the All-Northwest Conference on march 11th in Spokane. The trip will be funded through the Pony Card fundraiser and concession funds.
- On second and final reading, approval of several policy revisions and new policies.
- In executive session, an evaluation of Superintendent Craig Mueller was provided.
