School Board Receives Petitions In Support Of Coach
The Wolf Point School board received petitions signed by adult and students in support of boys’ basketball coach Troy Blount during its meeting on Monday, May 9.
Frank Benson, who is Wolf Point’s girls’ basketball coach and has a son on the boys’ team, presented the petition signed by more than 100 adults during the public comment portion of the meeting.
Gaige Bushman, a junior, presented a petition signed by 15 players who want Blount back as the program’s head coach. He noted that Blount is a father figure to many of the players.
Regarding the previous board meeting, Patricia Toavs of the Wolf Point Education Association said that the school board didn’t act correctly when they divided the group of coaches recommended to be hired. She said no motion was made to consider each coach separately. She also noted that the chair of the board can not make motions.
The Northern Plains Independent requested that it will be put on the record that the Montana Public Information Act was violated at the last school board meeting because the school board didn’t permit adequate public participation.
Superintendent Loverty Erickson responded to the Independent’s statement via email last week, by stating that “the district in collaboration with the new board chair will address your concerns through a ‘letter to the editor’ to ease your organization’s concern as well as the community’s concern you brought during public comment.”
Hired during the meeting were Tara Thomas as Southside Elementary School principal, Maggie McGraw as junior high school teacher, Steven Schwartz as junior high school teacher and Ty Nygard as assistant cook.
Resigning were Jazzamyn Benson as Northside physical education teacher, Tiffani Darby as high school English teacher, Sarah Larkin as Southside teacher, Kristel Macapobre as Southside teacher and Brooke White Bear as home/school coordinator.
Eric Peterson was rehired as activities director. Nellie Garfield was rehired as cheer coach. High school assistant coaches hired included Frank Benson for football, Scott Montgomery for football, John Gardner for football, Janeya Sutherland for volleyball, Taylor Gardner for volleyball and Maestro Martinez for wrestling.
Dr. Crystal Redgrave, culture and language consultant, provided an update of her work in Wolf Point. Her curriculum includes training teachers for instruction.
Erickson welcomed new board members and thanked outgoing trustees for their work and dedication.
Erickson said the board’s work should focus on curriculum and instruction. She noted a new math curriculum is being established and progress is made with the Native American K-12 curriculum. She said a five-year strategic plan needs to be developed.
Erickson provided a review of the school district’s safe return to school and continuity of services plan. A community meeting recently took place at Northside Elementary School.
Outgoing board members Linda L. Hansen and Dr. Mark Zilkoski each made comments at the end of the meeting.
Hansen thanked everybody that she worked with during her time as a trustee.
Zilkoski said being on the board has been both fun and work. He has enjoyed working to try to provide area students “better than the best” education.” He thanked teachers for being willing to be in the “fish bowl” and realizes it’s not easy. “We’re all role models whether we want to be or not,” he said of adult leaders.
