Schmidt Pleased With Poplar’s Improvements
Dan Schmidt is serving his third year as the Poplar superintendent of schools. He is pleased with the progress that the school district has made during this time, but he notes that it’s because of many people’s hard work that success has been achieved.
“We continue to sit down and have some very civil conversations about what they like to see for education in Poplar,” Schmidt said of his work with the school board and other school leaders.
Schmidt explained school improvement planning has been conducted with a consultant to help spread the system of success in some areas to the entire district.
He feels administrators, teachers, the board and other staff members need to work together to determine the right path for Poplar’s students.
“It feels like we’ve have made real strides where there’s more trust in levels of relationships,” Schmidt said. “I believe in stressing partnerships, civic responsibilities. We all make it a better society, not just one or two people.”
Improvements have include establishing a middle school music program, middle school family consumer science classes and a FFA program.
“We’re just developing options for our school kids,” Schmidt said.
A major heating/ventilation replacement project has been finished. School officials are looking to expand in technology areas and door entrance security.
He noted some goals have been slowed because of the COVID crisis, but he is proud of how teachers and staff responded to those challenges. “We’re still making strides,” he said.
He said that of Poplar’s roughly 900 students, 300 were in remote learning during the first semester. About half of those 300 students have returned to the classroom in the second semester.
“Parents and everybody decided they like having a school teacher,” Schmidt smiled.
He’s very pleased that the teachers union has reached a tentative contract agreement for a new threeyear contract. In addition, contracts with classified staff and bus drivers are already in place.
Schmidt says the new teaching contract will help recruit and retain teachers. New teachers will start on the step two of the salary matrix.
“That puts us in a competitive range,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt, who is originally from northeastern Montana, is feeling at home in Poplar. “People are similar, it just has more hills,” he laughed.
He recently agreed to stay in Poplar for another three-year contract.
“This has met all my expectations and more,” Schmidt said of his position. “It has challenged me more than any other job, but I’ve enjoyed everything. It’s a great place for me to be.”
