Dixon
Dixon, MT · Education
NBCMontana
FVCC Student Research Showcase highlights innovation in arts and STEM
MISSOULA, Mont. — Flathead Valley Community College is inviting the public to its annual Student Research Showcase on Friday, May 8, featuring a full day of student presentations, performances and demonstrations. The event will take place in the Arts and Technology Building on campus in Kalispell and will highlight...
Valley Press - Mineral Independent
Plains Schools eliminate speech therapist position
The April Plains School Board trustees unanimously voted to eliminate the speech therapist position currently held by Lisa Burnham last Monday. In a letter written by Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Walsh, who was not present at the meeting, and read by Board Chair Lana Dicken, Walsh recommended the action. “Dear Ms. Dicken, I am recommending that the trustees at Plains School District terminate Lisa Burnham from her position as a speech pathologist pursuant to section 20-4-204 Montana Code Annotated. The purpose of this letter is to give notice to you and other trustees and to Lisa Burnham for the following reasons,” Walsh wrote. “The board of trustees voted to join the Cabinet Mountain Special Cooperative to provide comprehensive and intensive services to the students of the Plains School District,” the letter continued, “In doing so, it eliminated the need for Ms. Burnham’s position. This is a reduction in force." “I did not receive official notice or communication from the district about my position being eliminated until March 17 when the business manager hand delivered a termination notice to me,” Burnham commented in an email. Burnham has been employed as a speech therapist for the Plains School District for 15 years. Prior
NBCMontana
FVCC library earns national excellence award
MISSOULA, Mont. — The Broussard Family Library at Flathead Valley Community College has been awarded a 2026 Excellence in Academic Libraries Award from the Association of College and Research Libraries. The national honor recognizes community and junior college libraries that demonstrate outstanding support of their institution’s educational mission. FVCC...
kgez.com
Creston School Wants To Add Middle School
The Creston School is hoping to gain accreditation for a middle school. As things stand now, Creston 7th and 8th graders must transfer to either the Kalispell Middle School or to Cayuse Prairie, which has it’s own 7th & 8th grad programs. They’ve applied to the State for accreditation with the hope of receiving it in time to begin next school year.
Flathead Beacon
Creston School Looking to Tack on Seventh and Eighth Grades
As smoke billowed out of a glass bowl in a Creston School classroom Friday afternoon, a member of the Big Sky Astronomy Club explained to students that the chemical reaction of dry ice and water was meant to emulate a comet’s tail. A comet’s tail, she said, always points away from the sun — similar to how the smoke was moving away from her body.
Yahoo Sports
C-Falls, Polson win in Missoula; Bigfork beats Ronan
MISSOULA — The Columbia Falls Wildcats don’t mind playing at Ogren Park-Allegiant, and neither do the Polson Pirates. The Wildcats beat Florence 8-3 and Polson downed Corvallis 8-2 Thursday at the Missoula PaddleHeads High School Showcase, hosted by Frenchtown High. Whitefish and Frenchtown were set to play Thursday’s...
Char-Koosta News
SKC names nursing school for CSKT trailblazing nurse Catherine Mathias Hamel
PABLO, Mont. — Salish Kootenai College has named its School of Nursing after Catherine Mathias Hamel, one of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ first nurses and a 1957 graduate of Carroll College. Friends, family, and colleagues gathered on Friday to dedicate the Catherine Mathias School of Nursing, honoring a life of service that spanned clinical care, tribal advocacy, and community activism.
Lake County Leader
Polson grad and Montana State physics student wins prestigious fellowship
As a first-semester Montana State University freshman majoring in mechanical engineering, Aspen McKee spent many late nights at the computer lab in Cobleigh Hall. On her way out of the building, she often stopped in front of a poster advertising a fellowship that seemed to mesh with her lifelong desire for a career at NASA. McKee said she never believed she would be a candidate for the highly competitive award, but as she progressed through the engineering curriculum and then decided to change her major to astrophysics, she didn’t forget about the poster and its descriptions of the support provided to Brooke Owens fellows as they launch careers in the aerospace industry. Last fall, McKee decided to apply for a 2026 fellowship and recently learned she was one of 26 recipients in the U.S. selected to become “a Brookie.” “I absolutely did not think I had a shot,” said McKee, now a junior studying in the Department of Physics in MSU’s College of Letters and Science, as well as in the Honors College. “I felt like I was in an applicant pool of very, very big fish.” Coming out of high school, McKee, who is from Polson, aspired to become
Whitefish Pilot
New Muldown Elementary principal selected
The Whitefish School Board last week moved to hire Jennifer Santora as the new principal of Muldown Elementary. Current Principal John Coyne will retire at the end of the year. Santora currently serves as an assistant principal at an elementary school in Manatee County, Florida. She was recommended based on her experience as a building administrator and as a district instructional leader, said Superintendent Dave Means. “She brings great energy and positivity,” he said. Finalists interviewed by the hiring committee on April 8 included Santora, Keli Miller, Shila Schreiner and Ted Miller. “It was a tough decision. We had four very good candidates,” said Trustee Jerrie Boksich. She noted that Santora's husband lives in Kalispell and her daughter attends Montana State University. Santora is expected to start on July 1. The board also discussed changing the description for the director of curriculum and instruction, updating it to assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. The description is more fitting, but it now is inclusive of an acting authority designated should the superintendent be absent. Lisa Bloom has been hired as the interim superintendent, and the district will now look to hire the updated position. Trustees approved Bloom’s interim superintendent contract with
Lake County Leader
Polson AD stepping down after three years
Polson activities director Sean Dellwo is resigning at the end of the school’s athletic season to prioritize his family. Dellwo has been serving as the activities director for the past three years as Polson High has won multiple state championships and had some successful years across all sports. “We are incredibly appreciative of Sean and the positive impact he has had on our school and community,” said Superintendent Andy Fors in a press release issued April 15. “His work ethic is second to none, and the relationships he has built across our programs have made a meaningful difference for our students. He has been a strong advocate for activities and has helped create positive experiences for student-athletes.” The statement also indicated that Dellwo wanted to focus on his family, but intends to stick with the school in a different role. “I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a special program and to work alongside such dedicated coaches and staff,” said Dellwo in that same release “Polson is a special place, and I look forward to continuing to support our students and programs moving forward.” The Polson School District is now in the process of finding Dellwo’s
NBCMontana
Flathead holds off Glacier in first crosstown baseball game
KALISPELL, Mont. — On Tuesday, the first-ever crosstown baseball matchup in Kalispell between Flathead and Glacier high schools didn’t disappoint, turning into a high-scoring thriller. After a quiet start, Glacier broke through first, jumping out to a 3-0 lead behind timely hitting and bases-loaded pushes to extend the...
Whitefish Pilot
Letter to trustees on hiring decision
My name is Willie Roche, and I serve as the head boys track and field coach at Whitefish High School. I am writing to formally express my deep disappointment in the board's recent decision to trump the administration’s recommendation to hire Addy Connelly as assistant track & field coach. Coach Connelly went through the application and interview process that our district has had as status quo for many years, and many coaching hires. After the interview process, the hiring committee unanimously determined that Coach Connelly was the correct person for the job, so we recommended her for hire. That recommendation came from myself, head girls coach Matt Beckwith, Activities Director Aric Harris, Assistant Principal Hallie Koppang, and Superintendent Dave Means. Every person hired by this board to make these kinds of decisions agreed: Addy Connelly was the right choice. Coach Connelly is already a teacher in this district, our head volleyball coach, and a respected leader within our school community. With her being a teacher in 2 buildings in this district, and her extensive coaching experience of our high school girls, she has a major role in students’ lives in this district from their first years to their last. She
Bigfork Eagle
Bigfork High students take home top honors at regional math contest
A record number of Bigfork High School students competed in this year’s Montana Council of Teachers of Mathematics regional contest, and their efforts added up to Bigfork’s best performance in years. Bigfork placed third as a team for grades 11 and 12, which is the highest team finish in Bigfork’s competition history, according to math teacher and team adviser Josh Feller. Senior Triston Feller placed first and received a $500 scholarship. He advanced to compete at the state level. Senior Madeline Pomeroy placed third. The contest tests students on core math standards and features three sections: a multiple-choice test, a numerical response test and a group test. Students have 30 minutes to complete each of these. High scorers at the regional level advance to a state competition. Bigfork competes in the Kalispell region contest, which was held at Flathead Valley Community College on March 19. The contest also awards scholarships to the top high school senior scorers. At the regional level, a $500 and a $300 scholarship are on the line. Other notable top finishers from Bigfork included junior Rye Peterson who placed 18th in the 11th to 12th grade division out of 89 total students. Sophomore Payton DeSpain placed
NBCMontana
Nobel Laureate Fred Ramsdell to speak at FVCC Honors Symposium in Kalispell
MISSOULA, Mont. — Flathead Valley Community College will host 2025 Nobel Laureate Fred Ramsdell for a community-wide Honors Symposium on May 9. The free event is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Wachholz College Center and is open to the public. Ramsdell will discuss the scientific journey behind his...
Yahoo Sports
Wolfpack down Bulldogs day after taking first loss
WHITEFISH — Not the home opener the Bulldogs hoped for, but the rebound the Wolfpack needed. Max Weber hit a crucial two-run double as Glacier defeated Whitefish 5-3 in high school baseball Saturday at Smith Fields. The win comes a day after Glacier suffered its first loss of the...
Flathead Beacon
Kalispell Middle School Health Instructors Say Program Cuts Have Had Negative Impacts
Noah Couser has long taught physical education and health at Kalispell Middle School, in the popular health enhancement program, which he heralded as a gold standard in the state. For most of his 17-year tenure at KMS, students have had health enhancement class all 180 days of the school year...
Yahoo Sports
Polson rallies past Libby softball
POLSON — Polson capitalized on three Libby walks and a Maddie Turner bases-clearing double to score six runs in the fifth inning and rally past Libby Tuesday in high school softball. Hadleigh Wood knocked a two-run homer for the Loggers, who found their own six-spot in the fourth to...
Hungry Horse News
Legals for April, 15 2026
NO. 32015 Public Notice Special Education Records Destruction 04/08/2026 The Columbia Falls Schools will soon destroy special education records of former students born in 1999. Former students may contact the Columbia Falls School District Six Special Services office within sixty days of this notice if they wish to review the files or receive the information contained in them. The data to be destroyed shall include information collected for identification, location, evaluation, and other items directly related to special education services which the student had received. Parents of students still in school but not in special education for at least five years may also request that their children’s records be destroyed. Parents of these students also have the right to inspect the special education records and obtain the information contained in those records before they are destroyed. Persons having questions about this process or those persons wishing to request records may contact: Michelle Swank, Director of Special Services 406-892-6550 Ext. 1436 April 15, 2026 MNAXLP __________________________ No. 1828 Audit Publication Statement An audit of the affairs of the Columbia Falls School District, Columbia Falls, Montana, has been conducted by Nexus CPA Group, PLLC. Certified Public Accountants. The audit covered the fiscal
Valley Press - Mineral Independent
Loggers escape Noxon with tense win
Noxon put the fear of the Devils into the Loggers but, in the end the Libby Loggers defeated the Noxon Red Devils 10-6 in a hotly contested high school baseball game in Noxon Saturday. “We had some chances in that game, definitely could have won it,” Red Devil coach Lucas MacArthur said. “But some errors at the beginning of the game and again at the end cost us.” MacArthur said the early errors helped put Noxon behind the Loggers 6-1. Playing well otherwise, the Devils maintained through the middle innings and put a rush on the Loggers in the bottom of the fifth. “We got the bats going in the fifth and managed to tie it,” he said, pointing to a three-run home run by Dallas Weaver as the key hit in the surge. “We had Libby on the ropes right then, had them a little worried.” Unfortunately for the Devils, some key errors in the last few frames in the form of two balks and a couple of dropped balls led to Libby being able to score four runs and escape from the West End with the win. For their part, the Devils were unable to muster up another