Trustees Vote To Not Rehire Coach
Wolf Point School Board trustees approved the rehiring of all but one high school coach during their monthly meeting on Monday, April 11.
A motion by trustee Ronald Jackson to not rehire boys’ basketball coach Troy Blount passed by a 4-2 margin.
Board chair Linda L. Hansen allowed little public comment on the issue, little more than having individuals say whether they were in favor or not in favor of having Blount remain as coach.
Karli McGowan was hired as Wolf Point’s new head volleyball coach.
Head coaches rehired were Anthony Red Cloud for football, Stacy Summmers for cross country, Scott Vandall for wrestling, Frank Benson for girls’ basketball and Wendy Connelley for speech and drama.
Another issue that attracted some public comment was Native American studies instructor Tressa Welch not being included on the list of teachers being re-hired.
Comments in favor or not in favor regarded the teacher were made.
Trustee Lawrence Hamilton Jr. voiced his concerns about the Na- tive American studies program. He said he hasn’t heard a report from consultant Dr. Crystal Redgrave yet this school year and he now doesn’t want to lose a teacher that students like.
“I want to know about it,” Hamilton said.
Hansen answered that she is just working off her agenda for the meeting.
Resignations included Patrick Drapeau as Southside principal, Katie Noser as Northside teacher, Kristi Smit as speech language pathologist, Shaylea Mitchell as Southside school secretary and Issac Big Beaver as assistant cook.
Hired were Carlita May Mendoza as Northside elementary teacher, Nikolas Theotokis as junior high/ high school math teacher, Treyton Lilley as assistant cook, Angela Swenson as substitute teacher, Leonard Sandoval as junior high/high school assistant custodian, Issac Big Beaver as substitute cook, Anthony Red Cloud for Lil Wolves football, Frank Benson for Lil Wolves football and Stacy Summers for track coach volunteer.
Trustees approved the renewal of contracts for Kim Hanks as high school principal, Greg Gourneau as junior high school principal, Georgie Gourneau as Northside principal, Sarah Chambers as administrator of curriculum and instruction, Cheri’ Nygard as business manager and Cole Hanks as district technology administrator.
Trustees approved the lists of tenured and non-tenured teachers for next school year.
A new business manager salary scale was approved. The scale starts at $68,000 for year one and ens with $85,885 for year 20. An educator asked a question about the salary scale. Hansen answered, “Thank you for your comment.”
During the public comment section of the meeting, Wolf Point Education Association president Patricia Toavs expressed her disappointment that the school board no longer publicly reads letters of retirement from staff members.
“To me, this is disrespectful,” Toavs said. “They deserve the recognition.”
A teachers’ appreciation event is scheduled for the afternoon of Tuesday, May 3, at the high school.
Trustees agreed to renew the agreement with the Montana Unified School Trust (MUST) to purchase health insurance for staff. The 2022-2023 health insurance renewal has been received and the district received an increase of 0 percent.
