Columbia Falls
Columbia Falls, MT · Education
Lake County Leader
Charlo kicks off school year with excitement and steady enrollment
When Interim Superintendent Jim Baldwin started at Charlo School District last year, many “naysayers” questioned Charlo’s survival and predicted a continued enrollment decline, but Baldwin said they’re really excited for this year and maintaining steady enrollment. “The whole atmosphere around the school seems positive, and we’re going strong,” Baldwin said. Enrollment at Charlo is 64 in the high and middle schools and 102 in the elementary school. Baldwin said they combined fifth- and sixth-grade classes along with kindergarten and first-grade classes during the afternoon periods because of smaller class sizes. When asked whether they have a set plan to increase enrollment, Baldwin said they are not going to change their standards just to increase numbers. But they welcome any student who is a good citizen because creating good citizens is Charlo’s priority. In Montana, students can transfer to any public school out of district as long as the school board approves that the student can attend the district, which is most commonly determined by the school's classroom space. Baldwin noted that some students who transferred to St. Ignatius the prior year have returned to Charlo, which means “we must be doing something right,” he said. This year Charlo’s new staff
Hungry Horse News
Former superintendent gives insight into high school remodel
I am writing to express my support for the Columbia Falls High School bond project. As your former Columbia Falls Junior High Principal and Superintendent of School District 6, I have a unique perspective on this project and our district’s needs. My 26-year career in the district was the honor of my life, serving students, parents, staff, and the community in this wonderful place we call home. Over the span of my career, several bonds were passed, including the Columbia Falls Junior High bond in the late 1990s and the 2017 bond, which built a new Glacier Gateway Elementary School and remodeled Ruder School. To say the district has been grateful for the community’s past support would be an understatement. There are many reasons a new facility is needed for our high school, which was built in 1959. However, this letter will focus on the grave needs in the areas of safety and security. Unfortunately, these issues are top of mind for all of us, as our children are our most precious gifts. Having discussed school security for many years at the local, state, and national levels, and having participated in numerous trainings and consultations, we understand the challenges schools
Bigfork Eagle
Frenchtown rolls past Bigfork in football opener
BIGFORK — The Vikings opened their season with a tough test from Frenchtown right out of the gate on Friday night. Bigfork (0-1) fell 38-0 to the defending state champion Broncs in a Class A non-conference matchup. “We knew we were a young team going into tonight,” Bigfork coach Hunter Johnson said. “They are the champs, but we'll go into the film, we'll get better.” On the fourth play from scrimmage, Bigfork fumbled and Frenchtown took advantage with a 2-yard touchdown run from Jake Forthofer to take the lead 7-0. The Vikings responded with their best drive of the first half. Senior quarterback Alex Ochs connected with sophomore Cooper Porrovecchio for a 40-yard gain to move into the Broncs territory. But the Vikings couldn't finish it off, turning the ball over on downs four plays later. The Broncs responded with another long drive. On fourth-and-3 just past midfield, Cody Forthofer connected with Cooper Michaud for 33 yards before finding him again two plays later for a 3-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead. Frenchtown stretched the lead to 24-0 by halftime behind Brett Kleinsmith's 42-yard field goal and a 1-yard touchdown run from Cole Pfahler. The Broncs then opened the second
Bigfork Eagle
An ancient craft in the modern world: the New Agrarian School charts new path forward with first executive director
Reed Miller is in an interesting position: he’s been tasked with bridging the gap between the ancient art of blacksmithing and the modern world that has all but caused its extinction. In his role as the first executive director of Bigfork’s New Agrarian School, he will attempt to do just that. As Miller ambled around the school’s 10 acres near Echo Lake, pointing out the metal bones of old bridges that once spanned the Swan River, Jeffrey Funk, the school’s founder, was teaching a class to six rapt students. Since Miller joined the New Agrarian School last November, this is the arrangement that suits Miller and Funk: Miller handles the public facing duties while Funk’s time is freed up to do what he is most passionate about, namely passing on his decades of wisdom to the next generation. “We're not only spanning generations; we're also spanning different skill sets,” Miller said. “Blacksmithing is core to this school, but down the road we want to have a multi-craft school because the cross-pollination between different crafts is intoxicating, and it's very inspiring to see all these different people from different mediums interact and feed off each other.” With Miller on board, the
NBCMontana
FVCC presidential finalists to meet community during September forums
MISSOULA, Mont. — Flathead Valley Community College is inviting the public to meet the four finalists for its next president during campus visits the week of Sept. 14. The finalists are J. Mark Browning, president and CEO of Blue Mountain Community College; Daniel R. Czech, dean of the School of Applied Sciences at the University of Mississippi; Andrew R. Fields, CEO of the University of Idaho Coeur d'Alene; and Deborah Kish Stephan, campus president of Hillsborough College's Brandon Campus.
Great Falls Tribune
Takeaways: Flathead much improved; Great Falls High offense explosive
The Great Falls High football team fell late in the season-opener on Friday, Aug. 28, as Kalispell Flathead scored with 20 seconds left to take the nonconference game 34-31 at Memorial Stadium. The Bison (0-1) displayed their share of offensive prowess in the contest but were outgunned on the night by the Braves while also dealing with significant injuries. Great Falls High hits the road to close out its nonconference schedule at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4, at Missoula Big Sky. C.M. Russell High (0-1) has its 2026 home debut at the same time against Missoula Sentinel at Memorial Stadium. Here’s the takeaways from the opening game of the season for the Bison. More: Bear Barker clutch as Flathead football upends Great Falls High on late score More: Helena Capital holds off C.M. Russell football in season-opener Flathead looking much improved in 2026 The Braves have been in the lower tier of Class AA programs in recent years, but they no longer resemble a team that will be a cakewalk for anyone in head coach Mac Roche’s second season. Quarterback Bear Barker was phenomenal, throwing for 310 yards and three touchdowns and continually kept drives alive for the Braves
Flathead Beacon
New Homeschooling Collective Set to Instruct Nearly 300 Students in its First Year
Erin Loechner and her family moved to Montana from Indiana because of a “spiritual experience.” She, her husband and their children are in the throes of building an off-grid cabin in the mountains. With the children pitching in on those efforts and learning about construction, the situation lends itself best to teaching them at home.
hilinetoday.com
Blue Pony Football Opens Season Tonight Against Whitefish
Havre, MT – The Havre Blue Pony football team opens its season tonight at home at 7 p.m. against the Whitefish Bulldogs. NMB Sports spoke with Head Coach Jake Eldridge after Tuesday’s practice about what the team needs to do to start week one with a 1-0 record.
Flathead Beacon
2026 Flathead Valley Fall Sports Preview
After a 2025 fall season filled with individual and team state championships, several Flathead Valley athletes will be on the title defense, while others will make a push to reach the mountain top of Montana high school sports after falling one win short a season ago. The Glacier Wolfpack and...
KPAX
Ronan School District names new superintendent from within
Hungry Horse News
Tax impact of high school remodel drops significantly
Mail ballots for the $75.9 million bond for Columbia Falls High School go out to voters on Sept. 9. This is the second go-round for the high school remodel request. In November of 2025, a $84.4 million bond election failed by about 1,600 votes. So the school board trimmed about $8.5 million from the project and since then, a group of citizens have been lobbying the public on the project through social media and other community events. The 25-year bond is estimated to have an interest rate of about 4.38%, if it passes. The estimated tax impact on a primary home with an assessed value of $600,000 is now $321. The estimate dropped considerably after the school district received its latest valuation from the state. Previously, the district had estimated it would be about $409 for the same home. The school held its first classes in 1959 and still has fixtures and other infrastructure from that era, save for the classroom wing, which saw a remodel after the roof leaked while it was being replaced a few years ago and was heavily damaged. Insurance covered most of the cost of the damage, while a short-term bond paid for the roof
Bigfork Eagle
New principal takes the reins at Somers Middle School
Julia Maxwell may be a mustang now, but the fifth-generation Cascade graduate will always carry some allegiance to the school that raised her and inspired her to become an educator in the first place. “I’m a badger all the way — go Cascade! I’m also a Bobcat,” Maxwell admitted. “But I have sympathy toward the Griz because my husband and kids are Griz fans.” Maxwell is starting her first year as principal of Somers Middle School, bringing with her a wealth of experiences from all aspects of education across Montana, including as a parent, a teacher, a principal and superintendent, and as a member of the Montana Board of Public Education. Education made sense as a career path for Maxwell. “I'm a kid person. I love being with kids,” Maxwell said. “You'll find me outside playing at recess sometimes. I love children and their just their sweet naivety, their sweet positivity about everything. It's just addicting. I’m chasing my own kids to sports and wearing glitter at school games and cheering. Really, my whole life is pretty much taken up by kids.” Maxwell grew up on her family’s cattle ranch in Cascade, a small town between Great Falls and Helena.
Hungry Horse News
Grant for high school helps with lead in the water
Columbia Falls High School has been awarded a $1.4 million grant from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to support a campus-wide drinking water infrastructure remediation project. The grant will fund the design and replacement of drinking water system components, including piping and fixtures identified through the remediation effort. The project is intended to reduce or eliminate sources of lead contamination within the school’s drinking water system and significantly reduce or eliminate reliance on temporary filtration measures. “The award provides dedicated state funding to address a significant facility need while reducing the amount of project cost that would otherwise require local funding. District officials anticipate using the grant to implement long-term improvements to the school’s drinking water infrastructure while coordinating the work with other planned facility upgrades,” noted superintendent Cory Dziowgo in a release. The grant award comes as Columbia Falls School District Six prepares for the Columbia Falls High School Special Bond Election scheduled for Sept. 29. If the bond measure is approved by voters, district leadership plans to coordinate the water remediation project with the broader high school renovation effort. Ballots go out Sept. 9. Integrating the projects would allow construction activities to be managed as part of
Bigfork Eagle
Back to school dates and information
Bigfork School District Maintenance projects completed over the summer: New lighting and flooring throughout the district and the installation of new stairs by the bus loading zone. For more information, visit bigforkschools.org or call 406-837-7420. — Bigfork Elementary and Middle School First day: Aug. 31 for first through eighth grade. Kindergartners will be placed on a rotating schedule for the first two weeks. Projected enrollment: 333 elementary students and 341 middle school students. New Staff: The elementary and middle school welcome teachers Earl Bach, fourth grade; Emily Bonner, third grade; Chase Breitbach, middle school band and middle and high school choir; Anders Epperly, second grade; Hannah Holderbaum, middle school English; Kristin Lavelle, middle school math; Whitney Lockman, first grade and Samantha Modderman, middle school science. Maintenance projects completed over the summer: New playground equipment. Open house: New students are invited to visit the school from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 31. Bigfork Elementary and Middle School is located at 600 Commerce St., Bigfork. For more information call 406-837-7407. — Bigfork High School First day: Freshmen and new high school students start Aug. 31. Sophomores, juniors and seniors start Sept. 1. Projected enrollment: 341 New Staff: Bigfork High School welcomes science
Flathead Beacon
New FVCC Foundation Director Hopes to Continue Sharing College’s Story with Valley Residents
At the heart of the Flathead Valley Community College Foundation’s work are human stories: real-life students impacted by the funding it offers through scholarships, capital projects and investments on campus. As Charlotte Housel takes over as the foundation’s new executive director ahead of a broader leadership transition on campus when longtime FVCC President Jane Karas departs at the year’s end, it’s those stories she hopes to preserve and build on.
swxlocalsports.com
After perfect 12-0 season, Glacier High Wolfpack aim to repeat as champs
KALISPELL, Mont. - Glacier High headed into the new football season after a perfect 12-0 championship run, but the Wolfpack also entered the year with major roles to replace. The team reached the title game for a third straight season after back-to-back runner-up finishes. Now Glacier prepared to defend its state title with returning players who already knew what it took to win.
kitchentablenews.org
FVCC Announces Finalists for President as Jane Karas Steps Down
Flathead Valley Community College is actively searching for a new leader as President Jane Karas concludes her 25-year service at the end of the year. The institution has narrowed the search to four finalists, who will each visit the campus in September. These visits will facilitate interactions with faculty, staff, and the local community, answering common questions about the candidates’ vision for the college’s future.
Daily Montanan
Flathead Valley Community College announces finalists in president search
With President Jane Karas wrapping up a 25-year tenure at Flathead Valley Community College at the end of the year, the search for her replacement is well under way. On Wednesday, the college announced it is moving forward with four candidates who will visit campus in September to meet with faculty, employees and the community. […]
Whitefish Pilot
Whitefish School District approves $31.5M budget
The Whitefish School Board last week approved a final 2026-27 budget of $31,555,443 and reviewed what was a busy summer for high school expansion crews and maintenance staff. The final budget is slightly less than the preliminary budget presented last month. The elementary general fund budget will increase by $167,837, or 1.43%, and the high school general fund will increase by $404,097, or 6.39%. These amounts are closely tied to student enrollment. Despite a slight decline in enrollment, the elementary district still receives an increase due to a 3% inflationary increase in state funding. Personnel are the largest expenditure in the district's budget. There are approximately 250 employees; 238 are full-time. The budget factors in debt services for the underway high school academic and athletic expansions. Business Clerk Lucie Shea anticipates decreases in Federal Title and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) grants. The Montana Office of Public Instruction typically doesn't release final numbers until September, she said. Only the budget of levied general funds was subject to the trustees' approval because they are taxpayer dollars. Chad Smith, maintenance director, gave an update of the extensive work that himself alongside two full-time maintenance technicians and a part-time employee did over