HomeMy Public PortalAboutMcCall-Donnelly Schools: Personnelr rr F
Former Boisean on McCall Teaching Staff
NEWCOMERS TO McCALL, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Seydel are
introduced to the new McCall-Donnelly teacher, (right) Mrs.
FY'iette Field by PTA President Del Marsolek, (center), Mrs.
Field is a former Boisean.
Donnelly PTA Honors Longtime Teacher
TAKING PART In a panel
show at the last Donnelly-
McCall PTA meeting were
(from left) Mrs. Vernon Fin•
cher, Mrs. Arvie Koskie, who
was guest of honor; James
Nissula, George Ikola, Ted
Johnson and Mrs. Raymond
Mohne.
DONNELLY • About 1.50 peo
ple attended an "I've Got A
Secret" type program presented
by Donnelly - McCall PTA who
held a special founder's day
meeting in the Donnelly school.
The program honored Mrs. Ar-
vie Koskie in recognition of
nearly 30 years of teaching in
schools in Valley county.
The Mmes. Gene Ruska, Ted
Burgess, Raymond Mohne and
the guest of honor comprised
the panel. Those who had the
same secret were Mrs. Vernon
Fincher, Mrs. Jim Kessler,
James Nissula, George Ikola,
Ted Johnson, Mr. and Mrs.
Wayne Arola, Mrs. Roger Ross,
Mrs. Art Bollar, and Miss La-
Vera West. They had at one
time or another been pupils of
hers in the Hill Grove, Elo, Pine
Grove, Norwood, Donnelly or
the McCall schools where she
teaching now.
Adolf Heinrich was modera-
tor of the panel and Mrs. Kos-'::
kie guessed the secret on the
third round of questions. Mrs.
Francis Gestrin, president, pre-
sented Mrs. Koskie with her
PTA life membership pin and
a corsage. A guest book signed
by all those present, many of
whom were former students,
also was given to her. Mrs. Bill
Willard talked about events in ;
Nfrs. Koskies' life. Mrs. Ted
3urgess, program chairman and
Ars. Raymond Mohne were in
harge of the panel.
Also on the program was
darshall Boyd, French horn
Mayer, accompanied by his fa-
her, Clayton Boyd.
PROTECTORS RF3- 11
Ingrid Koskie was honored by the Donnelly - McCall PTA last
month for her 30 years of teaching in Long Valley. Mrs. Dorothy
Gestrin is shown presenting a life membership PTA pin to Mrs.
Koskie.
D -M PTA TO MEET PAYETTE LAKES STAR
WEDNESDAY EVE `,. McCall, Idaho
THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1961
The Donnelly�McCall PTA will - -- _
met next Wednesday evening.
March 8th, in the high school Hobby, Show Date
cafeteria at 8:00 o'clock. Special Set For May 19
invitations have been sent to sen-
iors and parent's of seniors urging May 19 is the date PTA mem-
them to attend so that they can bers have chosen for the annual
hear Claude Waln, chairman of hobby show for all McCall -Don-
Vocational Education Division of, nelly school youngsters. Students
BJC, Boise and Dwight Dickey, are urged by committee members
Assistant to the Vice President, to begin planning their exhibits
BJC, Boise speak on "`Vocational now. Any type of collection may
Education versus College Educa• be entered in the show, they said,
tion. and prizes will be given in botn
Business matters to be taken different age groups and differ-
Business categories. Details will be an-
up will be discussion of a .hobby nounced later in the month.
show and selection of a nomination Planning this year's show am
committee. The executive com- Mms. Wilma Webb, Agnes Dow
mittee will meet preceding the land and Lois Wallace.
meeting.
PRE - SCHOOL CLINIC
Donnelly - McCall PTA MAY 3 AT McCALL
To Hear BJC Speakers MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
DONNELLY —The Donnelly The date for the pre- school clinic
McCall PTA will meet next for McCall children is Wednesday,
Wednesday at 8 p. m. in the May 3, members of the PTA health
high school cafeteria to hear committee emphasize.
Claude Waln, chairman of the The clinic will be held at the
vocational educational division McCall Memorial hospital, with the
of Boise Junior college. Another children being scheduled for ex-
speaker will be Dwight Dickey,
staff member at BJC. Vocational amination at definite times. Letters
education will be discussed. Mrs. have been sent to parents of the
Francis Gestrin, president, said children, it is reported, but any
the group will discuss the an- who were missed are asked to call
nuallhobby show and name a Mrs. Hugh Willey, 4 -5512, or the
nominating committee for 1961-
E 62 officers. school. 4 -2218. Donnelly parents
may roll Colleen Lewin.
h The clinic is designed to meet
the requirements of children en-
tering school for the first time
in having a medical examination.
The child must be six years of age
by October 15, 1961, to center the
first grade at the beginning of the
next school term.
Phillips resigns as jr. high principal
Mark Phillips has resigned as principal of McCall -
Donnelly Junior High School after one year in the
position.
Phillips, 29, said he was resigning to move to
Spokane, Wash., to be closer to his family and the
family of his wife, Beth, who teaches kindergarten in
the M -D school system. He said he had no current
job plans.
Phillips' resignation will become effective in the
middle of June. The position of principal of the
junior high school, located in Donnelly, has been
advertised with Thursday set as the deadline for ap-
plications.
He was hired by the McCall - Donnelly School
District last year from the Meridian School District,
where he worked for five years and taught sixth
grade.
"For what it's providing me, my current position
is not satisfying as far as the individual growth op-
portunities I wanted," Phillips said. "The position I
have now is basically maintenance."
He said trends in Idaho Legislature on education
also influenced his decision to resign. "Everything in
general that the legislature has done with education
has been difficult to deal with," he said. "This com-
munity has dealt with it, but it will continue to be dif-
ficult.
"I just wish the community the best in maintaining
a good school system in light of legislative support of
education," he said.
Mark
Phillips
M=D •
faculty receive away
Jerry Randolph
Jerry Randolph and Mack
Miller, both faculty members of
McCall- Donnelly High School,
recently received awards for their
accomplishments in separate ac-
tivities.
Randolph, M -D high school
counselor, was named Outstan-
ding Counselor of the Year by the
Idaho School Counselors
Association. The award was
given for exceptional profes-
sional involvement as a counselor
at state and local levels.
Randolph, who has worked as
a counselor at M -D since 1977,
represented the counselors
association on the State Board of
Education's committee that
developed new entrance re-
quirements for Idaho colleges
and universities.
In this area, he has been active
with the McCall - Donnelly Career
Education Advisory Board, the
Valley County Juvenile Advisory
Committee and the McCall -
Donnelly Vocational Education
Advisory committee.
Randolph also taught a special
class on teen suicide at M -D high
school and in area churches.
He previously has served as a
counselor in the Twin Falls and
Adams County school districts.
He holds degrees in English
education from Idaho State
University and counseling and
guidance from Colorado State
University.
Miller received his award for
outstanding contributions to
education from the Close Up
Foundation and R.J. Reynolds
Industries Inc.
Miller served as an a"-
ministrator for M -D high school
students and teachers who recent-
ly participated in the Close Up
government studies program in
Washington, D.C., Miller receiv-
ed his award in Washington.
Close Up is the nation's largest
government studies program that
brings students and teachers to
Washington for an intense week-
long look into the workings of
the federal government.
More than 145,000 students
and teachers from across the
country have participated in the
program since its inception in
1971.
-"h,o S)uA- - WS -
Brad Royse
Marilee Donivan
Ralph King
Jack Quast
Jr, high welcomes new principal, teachers
Here is a brief sketch of the
new teachers hired at McCall -
Donnelly Junior High School for
the 1985 -86 school year.
• Brad Royse, 28, is the new
principal at the Donnelly school.
Royse was born in Twin Falls and
raised in Kuna.
He performed undergraduate
study at Boise State University as
well as graduate study at the
University of Idaho.
He came to the McCall -
Donnelly School district from the
Salmon School District, where he
was a vice principal and athletic
director. Previously, he taught
social studies and was a coach at
the Hagerman School District.
Royse and his wife, Kathi,
have a son, Joshua.
• Marilee Donivan, teaches
English, reading, speech and
drama at the junior high school.
A child of a military family,
she has lived in the Washington,
D.C. area, Hawaii and Italy. She
has lived 13 years in McCall.
Donivan previously taught in the
Meridian School District and in
Beaverton, Ore.
She and her husband, Patrick,
have two children, Brian, 15, and
Kathi, 13.
• Ralph King, 33, teaches
seventh and eighth grade math,
pre - algebra and algebra and also
serves as football coach and
eighth grade basketball coach.
He was raised in Wendell and
received a bachelor's degree from
Boise State University. He taught
at Wendell High School three
years.
He and his wife, Sandra, have
two children, Kyle, 4, and Lind -
sav, 2.
• Jack Quast, teaches English,
history and science at the junior
high school. He also is assistant
football coach and coaches
seventh grade basketball and
track.
He was born in Boise and was
raised in the San Francisco Bay
area in California. He received a
bachelor's degree in social science
from the University of Oregon.
Quast previously taught for
three years at the Yellow Pine
school of the McCall - Donnelly
School District, and he taught in
Wilcox, Ariz. for two years.
Pitt Hardy gets nod
as top bus driver.
Schools
Pat Hardy, who has driven
school buses for three years for
the McCall- Donnelly School
District, has been named the
School Bus Driver of the Year by
her fellow drivers.
Hardy drives students from the
Donnelly area to the McCall
school in ages ranging from
kindergarten through high
school .
"My children are all grown,"
Hardy said. "I missed the contact
with young kids."
The popular impression that a
bus driver's job is hectic does not
match Hardy's description. "I
call it my relaxation time," she
said. "I enjoy it."
5Tm NKWS
Anderson honored as top teacher
McCall - Donnelly Elementary
School teacher Sue Anderson has
been named one of 50 outstanding
teachers in a national project to honor
quality teachers.
A total of 102 outstanding teachers
and secondary school principals were
announced in the fourth annual "In
Honor of Excellence" project, the
nation's only joint recognition pro-
gram of teachers ani principals.
The program is sponsored by Burger
King Corp., the National Association
of Secondary School Principals and
the Council of Chief State School
Officers.
The program is the only national
award that recognizes both outstand- dation upon which our government
ing teachers and principals, a news
release said.
Winners will be invited to a five -
day all- expense paid conference in
Florida on Nov. 19 -23, where a num-
ber of experts on learning, motivation
and trends will speak.
In comments after receiving the
award, Anderson, a second -grade
teacher, said three things must happen
if the current "excellence in educa-
tion" movement is to have an effect.
"Me federal and state governments
and local communities must pull to-
gether under the belief that free public
education provides the critical foun-
and society rest," Anderson said.
"More than point out what is wrong,
the movement must build on what is
right," Anderson said. "Intimate
teacher involvement in the design and
implementation of all elements of
reform will determine the success of
this movement."
Anderson has taught at McCall -
Donnelly Elementary School for 15
years. In addition to her state honor,
she was named Teacher of the Year
for two consecutive years by both the
school and school district, and was
Idaho Teacher of the Year last year.
Retirement date
set for M head
BY TOM GROTE
The Star -News
McCall - Donnelly School District
trustees plan to make a change in
the district's leadership when the
contract of current M -D
Superintendent Everett Howard runs
out in two years.
Trustees last week approved a
two -year contract for Howard, who
has been superintendent since 1983.
The contract expires on June 30,
1995, after which trustees expect to
have a new superintendent on board,
trustee Chairman William Eldredge
said.
"The board was looking for
change," Eldredge said in an inter-
view. The board has no problems
with Howard's performance, he said.
"It was just a matter of the board's
style and his style," he said.
Howard, 57, said last week that
he had asked the trustees for a three -
year contract, expiring in 1996,
which would allow hire to qualify
for full state retirement benefits.
The two -year contract would leave
him one year short of full retirement
eligibility.
Trustees initially offered Howard
a one -year contract, according to
Howard and trustees interviewed.
The final agreement was for the
two -year contract. Howard also may
leave his position before June 1995
if he provides 60 -day advance notice,
Eldredge said.
Howard said that he had hoped he
would be able to finish his educa-
tional career in McCall, but that he
understood that he might need to
look at other options.
"I didn't think we were that far
apart," he said. "Regardless of what
takes place, they are not going to
see a change in my performance."
On Monday, Howard sent a
memo to all school district employ-
ees briefing them about his new
contract. "The board feared that I
might not be able to adapt to their
philosophy, which differs from that
of previous boards," Howard's
memo said.
Trustee Connie Heirzmann noted
that the board of trustees has
changed make -up recently, bringing
with it new ideas and expectations.
"It's real important tLat we move
ahead," Heinzmann staid. "I think
Everett has done a fine job. He's
well liked and well respected."
Everett Howard
Trustees Ken Roberts, Joni
Stright and Melinda Nielsen all were
appointed to the board within the
last year. Heinzmann has served for
1 -1/2 years and Eldredge has the
longest tenure at 2 -1/2 years.
"We were coming into a transi-
tion period, and knowing that he
(Howard) was going to retire in the
future, we wanted a win -win situa-
tion for all of us," Stright said.
Stright said that many patrons
had told trustees that a change in
leadership was needed in the school
district. "We're happy with what
Everett has done, but with the tasks
ahead of us, we would welcome
some new blood," she said.
Eldredge echoed the praise of
Howard's performance. "Everett gave
us his best," he said. He has a lot
of intestinal fortitude and is very
loyal to the board."
Howard came to work at the
McCall - Donnelly district as an in-
terim superintendent when former
Superintendent Serve Wilson took a
leave of absence. Howard became
permanent superintendent in 1984
when Wilson accepted an education
position in Alaska.
Howard began teaching in
Midvale in 1959. He also taught in
Weiser and served as a consultant to
the Idaho Department of Education.
He returned to Midvale in 1967
to become superintendent of that
school district, and then moved to
Middleton School District in
Canyon County, where he was su-
perintendent from 1971 to 1975.
Howard then left education,
working as an area manager for a
manufacturer of agricultural and in-
dustrial chemicals before signing
back on with the McCall - Donnelly
district.
Howard said he has beaten the
odds for longevity for school super-
intendents, most of who only last
about five years on the the job.
"There are inherent hazards, such
as turnover in school boards,
changes in philosophy, but that is
happening nationwide, when you
look at things like changes of CEOs
of major corporations," he said.
Howard said he also has heard
concerns from patrons over such
things as high teachers salaries and
large property-tax overrides. But he
noted that those situations were the
result of actions by trustees, and not
through his own actions.
State Farm gives
$5,000 grant in
teacher's name
Marilee Donivan, a teacher at McCall -Don-
nelly Elementary School in McCall, Idaho, is
the winner of the nationally publicized State
Farm Good Neighbor Award for teachers.
The award, presented monthly by State Farm
Insurance in cooperation with the National
Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and
other teachers' organizations, recognizes sig-
nificant innovation in elementary and second-
ary education.
In connection with the award, State Farm is
making a $5,000 grant to McCall- Donnelly
Elementary School in Donivan's name. She
and three of her students are featured in an ad
in this issue of The Star -News.
Donivan and her students also were fea-
tured in ads in the June 14 issue of U.S. News
and World Report magazine, and the June
issues of National Geographic, Parents and
Smithsonian magazines.
"Marilee has very innovative teaching tech -
n iques," State Farm Vice President Bruce Callis
said in announcing the award. "She makes
science fun and exciting for these elementary
school students. We're proud to present this
(See "Donivan, "Back Page)
Donivan
(Continued from Page 1)
award to her."
Donivan teaches her second -grade
students about gravity, velocity and
motion — not only in the classroom,
but also on the ice. "The goal of
my science program is to have my
students do science in an investiga-
tive approach," Donivan said.
In the classroom, Donivan
demonstrates how an object with
greater mass requires greater force to
set it in motion and how an action
upon an object causes an equal and
opposite reaction.
Using Newtonian balls, or solid
spheres suspended in air by cords,
her students predict how many balls
will move when one or more are
pulled back and released.
At the ice rink, Donivan's class
tests Newton's . Laws of Motion.
Using skates, ropes, hockey pucks
and sticks, the students skate, spin,
slide or walk to demonstrate the ef-
fects of force, inertia and accelera-
tion of a friction -free environment.
"Reduced friction really accentu-
ates the laws of motion because it is
difficult to start and stop on the
ice," the 10 -year teaching veteran
said. "So, the ice rink becomes our
laboratory."
Being on the ice allows her stu-
dents to achieve what Donivan calls
"true scientific thinking" or think-
ing beyond what they've learned in
the classroom.
State Farm is the largest prop-
erty- casualty insurance company in
Idaho and in the United States, pro -
viding auto, home, life, health and
business insurance. With more than
50,000 members, NSTA is the
world's largest association devoted
to the improvement of science edu-
cation at all levels.
BY-TOM GROTE
nbsuFra�.
,The failure to pass a bond issue to
build new schools is the greatest re-
egret of'Everett Howard as.he,leaves
his ' ppoost as" superintendent 'of the
$McCall- Donnelly School District.
3Al Howard gave a farewell.interview
4-on lMonday, the day before he was
'scheduled to clean out his desk after
010 years I as M -D superintendent.
Howard resigned to accept the b of
superintendent of schools in, &ssia
;` County.
M -D trustees have interviewed
r three finalists in a search' to replace
;Howard,, but no firm' contract had
`been signed with any of the three by
:� Wednesday,' trustee Chair Bill
.Eldredge said.
"I a1 ways
tried to be
g; upfront
with them
(trustees).
— Everett
Howard.
Howard., 58, said he decided to
seek a new job this spring after trust -
ees offered him a new two -year con -
tract, which was one year less than he
requested so that he could retire with
4,full benefits.
'I could have stayed two years and
maybe things would have worked out,
but when you find the opportunity for
professional advancement, you take
.fat," "he said.
:'Howard said-he was willing to try
and overcome any philosophical dif-
ferencesbetweenhimselfand the trust-
eesoverdistrict management, but that.
;.; current board members still wanted to
limit his new contract to two years.
". With that uncertainty, I felt the need
to look (for another job)," he said.
Howard presided, over five failed
attempts since 1989 to pass a bond
issue for a building program, the most
recent in May falling just short of the
needed two- thirds majority.
"There are many divided interests,
i and I always thought maybe I could
pull all of that together somehow and
help resolve the problems," he said.
"Sometimes I take it personal, yet I
know I can't do a thing about it all by
"myself."
7ct. ��aa a
1iaves
0 s
p
involvement with statewide educa-
tion associations or lobbying on
behalf of education in the Idaho
Legislature. He believes the
McCall - Donnelly district is better
off because of his work.
Howard served as president of the
Idaho State School Superintendents
Association in 1991 -92. Last
month, he Was awarded the first -ever
Distinguished Service Award by the
Idaho Association of School
Administrators for his two -year
chairmanship of Idaho Schools for
2000. The statewide committee is
devoted to restructuring education in
Idaho.
He said the best advice he could
give his successor is to plan for
growth and constantly keep in mind
the diverse make -up of the district's
population.
He also urged the next superin-
tendent to remember that he ulti-
mately works for the school board.
"If you have to take sides, you have
to be with management and you
cannot go on the side of the teach-
ers," he said. "That's a fact of life."
Howard praised the teachers, staff
and administrators in the school dis-
trict who have worked with him
over the years. Teamwork has built
McCall - Donnelly into a school dis-
trict that he said is known statewide
and nationally for its quality.
"Bev and I have made life -long
friends here," he said. "Part of our
hearts will always be here."
Long
44 VOC a fie_
M -D teacher wins national teaching award
Marilee Donivan, a McCall - Donnelly Ele-
mentary School teacher is the winner of the na-
tionally publicized State Farm Good Neighbor
Award for teachers.
In conjunction with the award, State Farm
will make a $5,000 grant
to M -D Elementary
School in Donivan's
name.
Donivan and three
of her students were7fea-
tured in ads in the June
17 issue of the Idaho
Star Journal; the June 14
issue of U.S. News and
World Report; and the
June issues of National
Geographic, Parents and
Smithsonian magazines.
The award is pre-
sented monthly by State
Farm Insurance in coop-
eration with the National
Science Teachers Asso-
ciation (NSTA) and oth-
er teachers' organizations, and recognizes sig-
nificant innovation in elementary and sec-
ondary education.
"Marilee has very innovative teaching
techniques," State Farm Vice President Bruce
Callis said in announcing the award. "She
makes science fun and exciting for these ele-
mentary school students. We're proud to pre-
sent this award to her."
Donivan teachers her second -grade stu-
dents about gravity, velocity and motion — not
only in the classroom, but also on the ice.
"The goal of my science program is to
have my students do science in an investiga-
tive approach," Donivan said.
In the classroom, Donivan demonstrates
how an object with greater mass requires
greater force to set it in motion and how an ac-
tion upon an object causes an equal and oppo-
site reaction. Using Newto-
nian balls, or solid spheres
suspended in air by cords,
her students predict how
many balls will move when
one or more are pulled back
and released.
At the ice rink,
Donivan's class tests New-
ton's Laws of Motion. Us-
ing skates, ropes, hockey
pucks and sticks, the stu-
dents skate, spin, slide or
walk to demonstrate the ef-
fects of force, inertia and ac-
celeration on a friction -free
environment.
"Reduced friction really
accentuates the laws of mo-
tion because it is difficult to
start and stop on the ice," the 10 -year teaching
veteran said. "So, the ice rink becomes our lab-
oratory."
Being on ice allows her students to
achieve what Donivan calls "true scientific
thinking" — thinking beyond what they've
learned in the classroom.
State Farm is the largest property - casualty
insurance company in Idaho and in the United
States — providing auto, home, life, health and
business insurance.
With more than 50,000 members, NSTA
is the world's largest association devoted to the
improvement of science education at all levels.
Marilee Donivan
Jukle a3;/g93
State Farm gives
$5,000 grant in
teacher's name
Marilee Donivan, a teacher at McCall -Don-
nelly Elementary School in McCall, Idaho, is
the winner of the nationally publicized State
Farm Good Neighbor Award for teachers.
The award, presented monthly by State Farm
Insurance in cooperation with the National
Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and
other teachers' organizations, recognizes sig-
nificant innovation in elementary and second-
ary education.
In connection with the award, State Farm is
making a $5,000 grant to McCall- Donnelly
Elementary School in Donivan's name. She
and three of her students are featured in an ad
in this issue of The Star -News.
Donivan and her students also were fea-
tured in ads in the June 14 issue of U.S. News
and World Report magazine, and the June
issues of National Geographic, Parents and
Smithsonian magazines.
"Marilee has very innovative teaching tech-
niques," State Farm VicePresident Bruce Callis
said in announcing the award. "She makes
science fun and exciting for these elementary
school students. We're proud to present this
award to her."
Donivan teaches her second -grade
students about gravity, velocity and
motion — not only in the classroom,
but also on the ice. "The goal of
my science program is to have my
students do science in an investiga-
tive approach," Donivan said.
In the classroom, Donivan
demonstrates how an object with
greater mass requires greater force to
set it in motion and how an action
upon an object causes an equal and
opposite reaction.
Using Newtonian balls, or solid
spheres suspended in air by cords,
her students predict how many balls
will move when one or more are
pulled back and released.
At the ice rink, Donivan's class
tests Newton's Laws of Motion.
Using skates, ropes, hockey pucks
and sucks, the students skate, spin,
slide or walk to demonstrate the ef-
fects of force, inertia and accelera-
tion of a friction -free environment.
"Reduced friction really accentu-
ates the laws of motion because it is
difficult to start and stop on the
ice," the 10 -year teaching veteran
said. "So, the ice rink becomes our
laboratory."
Being on the ice allows her stu-
dents to achieve what Donivan calls
"true scientific thinking" or think-
ing beyond what they've learned in
the classroom.
State Farm is the largest prop-
erty- casualty insurance company in
Idaho and in the United States, pro-
viding auto, home, life, health and
business insurance. With more than
50,000 members, NSTA is the
world's largest association devoted
to the improvement of science edu-
cation at all levels.
,5 td r he w 5
M=D hires new
superintendent
BY TOM GROTE
The Star -News
A Washington man with more
than 30 years of experience in
school administration has been hired
to be the new superintendent of the
McCall - Donnelly School District.
Robert D. Schmitt was hired by
the M -D Board of Trustees after
Schmitt and two other finalists were
interviewed in McCall last month.
Schmidt, 60, just stepped down as
interim superintendent of the White
Pass School District in Randle,
Wash.
Schmitt and M -D trustees agreed
on a two -year contract at a starting
salary of $55,000 per year. He will
arrive in McCall to start work ; n
Aug. 1.
Schmitt replaces former superin-
tendent Everett Howard, who re-
signed after 10 years to become su-
perintendent in the Cassia County
School District.
M -D Trustee Chair William
Eldredge said the vote was unani-
mous among trustees to hire
Schmitt.
"We're really fortunate to have
recruited such an experienced indi-
vidual who has demonstrated his
leadership before," Eldredge said.
"He's seen most of the problems
we've been dealing with and has
been successful."
Eldredge complimented the citi-
zens' committee that screened appli-
cants for the job as well as his fel-
low trustees for their work in the se-
lection process.
In a telephone interview Tuesday,
Schmitt said that he and his wife,
Janet, have been impressed with
past visits to McCall. "It seems to
be a neat place to live and we were
impressed with the people we met
there," he said.
Raised in Kansas, Schmitt re-
ceived a bachelor's degree in busi-
nesses administration from
McPherson College in McPherson,
Kan., and later received a master's
degree in school administration from
Wichita State University in
Wichita, Kan.
He completed the so- called
"sixth- year" program from Emporia
State University in Kansas with an
emphasis on administration, and has
received academic credits from uni-
versities in Washington, Colorado
and Wyoming.
His first administrative job was
as superintendent of the 150- student
Toronto, Kan., School District from
1960 to 1962. He has held 10 super-
intendent posts since that time in
districts with enrollments up to
4,500 students. Enrollment in the
McCall- Donnelly School District
last school year was about 1,150
students.
Towns in which Schmitt has
held superintendent posts include: In
Kansas - Toronto, Peabody and
Winfield; in Colorado - Montrose
and Cortez; in Washington =
Smim% Arlington, West Valley
(Yakima) and Randle.
Schmitt even had a brief fling
overseas, serving as superintendent
of a school district in the Marshall
Islands in 1984 -85.
He said _he tried retiring three
J(ALv/ 8,1893
years ago, but failed. "Sept. 1 came
around, and I couldn't stand it," he
said.
Schmitt said he is ready to tackle
the issues now facing the M -D dis-
trict, including lack of funding,
growth in enrollment, the failure to
pass a bond issue for new buildings,
and teacher contract negotiations.
"1 try to work with people, and
normally those kinds of problems
can be resolved, although reality
sometimes intrudes," he said.
"I like a small school district
because it gives you the ability to
get to know people and be able to
see some results from your hands -on
activities," Schmitt said.
Schmitt and his wife have three
grown children. He likes to play
golf, his wife likes to ski and they
both love camping outdoors.
New M -D chief
pledges openness
Bob
Schmitt
r New
superintendent
ofM -D School
District
BY TOM GROTE
nm shrNewe
The new superintendent of the
McCall- Dommclly School District
said his main missions are to com-
municate with the public and provide
a sound learning environment for
students.
Bob Schmitt arrived for work last
week as the new M -D superinten-
dent, taking the place of former
SuperintendentEverettHoward, who
resigned to take a similar job in
Cassia County.
In an interview last week, Schmitt,
60, said he has been impressed with
what he has seen so far. "You look at
your test results, you've got good
role models in teachers and a long
history of community support of the
schools," he said.
Schmitt comes to McCall from
Randle, Wash., where he recently
stepped down as interim school su-
perintendent. He has more than 30
years of experience in administra-
tion, having led school districts in
Washington, Colorado, Kansas and
the Marshall Islands.
He and his wife, Janet, are living
at Lakeview Village in their recre-
ational vehicle while searching for a
home, but he has plenty at the office
to keep himself busy.
"You have to be an Everyman,"
he said. "In a school system,
nothing's ever perfect, so you deal
with whatever needs to be dealt with
at the time."
But he said he never loses sight
of what he called The Prime Direc-
tive. "The Prime Directive is to
provide the best possible learning
environment for kids in this com-
munity," Schmitt said. "That's what
we are really all about. Facilities,
curriculum, supervision, quality of
teaching — it's all a big ball of wax."
Schmitt said he also never for-
gets for who he works. "The schools
do belong to the people, and schools
are service agencies," he said. "My
door's always open. I've always
believed in that and I expect my
principals to be the same way."
Schmitt said he is ready to tackle
the problems facing the district, in-
cluding growth, the need for new
facilities and teacher relations.
On an expected bond issue this
fall, Schmitt deferred to the wis-
dom of M -D trustees who have been
wrestling with the issue for the last
four years. However, he said that
trustees' plan to resubmit the bond
issue that barely failed last May
looked like a good solution to crowd-
ing in the schools.
"You sorta have to go on faith,"
he said. "When you come within 57
votes, maybe you need to revisit the
campaign itself and see if you can't
turn up those votes somewhere."
On teacher relations, he said that
he has met with the leadership of
the McCall- Donnelly Education As-
sociation, which is currently
deadlocked in contract talks with
trustees.
"We have agreed to set that aside
and go ahead under normal circum-
stances," he said.
One difference Schmitt has no-
ticed about McCall as compared to
other small towns is the focus of the
community.
"The school is not, in fact, the
center of community, because this
See "Schmidt" back page
community has a lot of different things
to do," he said. "In a lot of small
towns, the school is the focal point for
everything."
Schmitt sees technology as an im-
portant tool in education, but he said
plans to use computers should be in
place before the equipment is pur-
chased, something that often is not
done.
"We have a generation of kids now
who have to view the computer as a
part of their life," he said. "Technol-
ogy to them has to be like opening the
refrigerator door or turning on the
radio."
Schmitt said he is especially con-
cemed about maintenance in school
buildings. "You've got to take care
of what you have before you go ask
for more," he said.
He said the district needs to move
federal funds gained from timber har-
vests out of the general operating bud-
get and into capital improvements.
On athletics, Schmitt said that a
balance needs to be struck between
academics and extra - curricular activi-
ties. "You want to produce rounded
people from our schools," he said.
XX4'�' /
Top
Counselor
McCall - Donnelly High School
Counselor Jerry Randolph has been
named Idaho School Counselor of
the Year. Randolph was given the
honor during a recent meeting of
the Idaho School Counselors Asso-
ciation in Nampa. A 17 -year em-
ployee of the high school, Randolph
provides career counseling and per-
sonal consultations with high school
students. He credited the success of
the counseling program at McCall -
Donnelly as being a team effort
among all staff members.
7ZP Z,-1h,7 1/ /�o y Wd )"oC�'7�
M -D school bond passes by big margin
MCCALL — It wasn't even close. The sixth time
proved to be the charm here last week as more than
three - quarters of the patrons of the McCall - Donnelly
School District who voted here last Tuesday said
yes to the district's $6.1 million bond levy.
"You have to be pretty elated about it," District
Superintendent Bob Schmitt said this week. "Particularly
about the high level of support it got."
That support, 76.5 percent in favor, was unlike
that any of the previous bond attempts could garner.
A lot of voters ventured out also, 1,802, which
was the most who've cast ballots in any of the mea-
sures to date.
Overall, 1,379 voters said "yes" to the project,
while 423 voted against it.
The closest the district had come to gaining the
two - thirds majority necessary before was last May
when a very similar measure fell tenths of a per-
centage point short of the needed 66.7 percent.
Though he said it is difficult to put his finger on
exactly what swayed so many voters and got them
out to vote, it had a lot to do with the effort put forth
by many volunteers, he said.
"They really stayed in there and did the job," he
said.
With the money generated by the bond, the dis-
trict will construct a new middle school on proper-
ty the district owns to east of Lumbermen's Building
Supply in McCall. It will also pay for remodeling
the present district junior high school in Donnelly
and donverting it into an elementary school, and also
for some remodeling of the current high school and
elementary school in McCall.
It is the existing conditions that people have final-
ly become aware of, he said, that seems to have made
the difference as the measure approved is function-
ally no different than what voters narrowly defeat-
ed earlier this year.
"There's a point at which people say, `this is
inevitable, it just has to happen, "' he said.
But he said he didn't believe it would have gained
voter approval without all of the work by volunteers.
The district's board of trustees had a noon meet-
ing scheduled for Tuesday at which they were expect-
ed to sign off on the educational specifications —
directions to the architect — for the Donnelly remod-
eling, Schmitt said.
From there, the architects will move to schemat-
ic drawings, he said. He said board members hoped
to go to bid on the Donnelly remodel by mid - spring,
and then go to bid on the middle school by June.
He said enough progress has to be made on the
Donnelly project this coming summer so that it can
be finished over the summer of 1995. And he said
the Middle School has to be enclosed before the bad
weather sets in this fall.
Both projects have to be coordinated so that they
can be occupied in the fall of 1995, he said.
"People are pumped up," Schmitt said. "All of
the sudden, this has become real."
T he Std r Ne- ws Mahch /_�), i y,? -/
'Exit, Stage Left!' for M -D's Phelps
McCall - Donnelly High School English and drama
teacher Wilmina Phelps gives directions last week to
cast members of The Egg and I, which will be the final
play of her teaching career. Phelps will retire at the
end of the school year after 35 years in education,
including 15 years at McCall - Donnelly. As advisor of
Photo by Tom Grote
the McCall - Donnelly Drama Troupe, she has directed
more than 30 plays, one -act performances and other
evening productions. "The best part is when my job is
done and I can sit back and watch the play," she said.
The Egg and I opens tonight at the M -D High School
Music Room. For details, see Page 7.
97 a -' 1VP ws _ Ju I Y Al, r 99�4
M -D's Schmitt won't
seek new contract
BY TOM GROTE
7Te Star -News
McCall - Donnelly School Dis-
trict Superintendent Bob Schmitt
said this week he will not seek
renewal of his contract when it
comes up at the end of the 1994 -95
school year.
Schmitt, 62, said he had been
inclined not to seek more than a
two -year contract when he was
hired in August, 1993. But he defi-
nitely made up mind to leave this
spring and informally notified M-
D trustees.
"It's a great place to live and
work, but there's a number of things
my wife and I intend to do in retire-
ment," Schmitt said Monday.
M -D Trustee Chair Joni Stright
said a search committee likely
would be named late this summer
or early fall, with the goal to have
a new superintendent selected by
the middle of the next school year.
Schmitt said he would have no
problem stepping down early if
trustees found a replacement they
wanted get on the job quickly.
Schmitt was hired last summer
following the resignation of former
superintendent Everett Howard,
who left after 10 years to become
superintendent of schools in
Burley.
When he was hired, Schmitt
had more than 30 years of experi-
ence in school administration. He
came to McCall from Randle,
Wash., where he had served an
interim school superintendent, and
previously supervised school dis-
tricts elsewhere in Washington as
Bob
Schmitt
Says 2 years
are enough
well as in Colorado, Kansas and
the Marshall Islands.
Stright said M -D trustees knew
Schmitt likely would not stay longer
than two years when they hired
him. But she said she tried to per-
suade him to stay longer given his
good record so far, including the
passage of a $6.1 million bond is-
sue last December.
"The board has been very
pleased," Stright said. "I've been
amazed with his energy and his
insight into the sense of direction
the district needs; what we should
worry about and what we shouldn't
worry about."
Schmitt said he also was happy
with the passage of the school bond
during his tenure as well as helping
place the district on sound finan-
cial footing. He was disappointed,
however, with the defeat in June of
a $350,000 property -tax override.
"I think it's been great," Schmitt
said of his job so far. "We've ac-
complished some things, but there
are a lot of things left to rtn 11
NC W S ,QcA �i i� S 7 t 9 9 `i
Photo by Tom Grote
New M -D High School Principal Larry Price stands with his 1937 Dodge Coupe in school parking lot.
New M -D High principal seeks
to be creative with solutions
BY TOM GROTE
The Star -News
The new principal of McCall -Don-
nelly High School plans to use his
creative skills as an artist to help him
in school administration.
Laurence O. "Larry" Price was
hired this summer to replace former
M -D Principal Doug Flaming, who
resigned after 10 years to become
principal of Vallivue High School in
Canyon County.
Price, 50, comes from Farmington,
Utah. He had been principal of Grand
County High School in nearby Moab,
Utah, for the past two years.
He previously served as principal
at high schools in Bicknell, Utah, and
in Dillingham, Alaska, after teaching
18 years in Ogden, Utah.
A public open house to introduce
Price to the community will be held
Thursday, Sept. 8, from 7 p.m. to 8:30
p.m. at the high school library.
Price assumes control of a high
school that is at a record attendance
level. About 350 students are expected
to be enrolled at M -D High when
school starts Monday, up from the
307 students enrolled at the end of the
last school years.
The Burbank, Calif., native, started
his professional teaching career in art,
teaching ceramics, jewelry making
and sculpture at Weber State Univer-
sity in Utah.
He holds a bachelor's degree in art
from Weber State and a master's de-
gree in secondary education from Utah
State University.
Price later gave up art as a full-
time occupation because "I found
motorcycle.
myself creating things, not because I
Price, a former college gymnast,
love them, but because I had to sell
appreciates the value of team sports in
them," he said.
high school, but he sees athletics "as
In becoming an educator, "I can do
a vehicle to keep kids in school." He
the art I wanted to do and cast that
would like to add more formal pro -
love of creating onto students," he
grams in so- called "lifetime" sports,
said.
such as skiing, tennis, golf, bowling
He believes he can use the creativ-
and archery.
ity and innovation necessary for art as
His approach to discipline is to
problem - solving tools for running the
hand out judgments that are firm, fair
high school.
and consistent. "The result will al-
"Most people attack problems in a
ways be exactly the same with me,"
business manner, but we should try to
he said.
look at things from a different angle
Price also plans to increase em-
and approach problems using differ-
phasis on vocational - technical train -
ent solutions," he said.
ing to prepare students who do not
One example of his non- traditional
attend college after graduation.
approach to management was an ef-
"Every student when they leave
fort to lower the 20 percent drop -out
this school should be similarly pre -
rate at Grand County High School.
pared for further training or exit with
Price convinced a local car dealer
skills that are job- ready," he said.
to donate a Chevrolet Camaro to the
Price and his wife, Loma, have
school, and he organized an effort
two grown children and one child at
among students to convert the car into
home, Bridger, 12.
a racer. Students made modifications
to the car and regularly tested its per-
formance at a local drag- racing track.
The catch for students who took
part in the rebuilding was they had to
maintain the same academic levels
required for other extra - curricular
activities, such as football. The pro-
gram and other efforts cut the drop-
out rate to under five percent, he said.
Price's appreciation of automobiles
is evident from his collection of four
antique vehicles, including a 1929
Model A Roadster Pickup, a 1937
Dodge Coupe, a 1940 Ford Deluxe
Coupe and a 1956 Har ev- Davidson
Howard named
top school chief
The former superintendent of the
McCall - Donnelly School District has
been named 1994 -95 Superintendent
of the Year by the Idaho School Su-
perintendents Association.
Everett Howard, now superinten-
dent of the Cassia County Joint School
District, will represent Idaho in the
national Superintendent of the Year
program sponsored by the American
Association of School Superinten-
dents. He will be formally recognized
during the ISSA's annual meeting
next February in Boise.
Howard was M -D superintendent
for 10 years until his resignation in
1993. Since 1991, he has chaired the
state's school reform committee,
which has awarded grants to pilot
programs throughout the state.
7e-::7
Plato by Earl Bro&ffor
McCall - Donnelly High School teachers who have come back to teach at M -D are: standing from left, Jeanne
Dehghanpisheh, Debbie Fereday and Kathy Gans. Sitting, from left, are Cheryl Knowles, Mike Gantz,
Kathy Miller and Shelly Chamberlain. Not pictured is Bill Willey.
M -D grads return as teachers
BY FRANCES FORD
For The Star-News
For eight McCall - Donnelly teach-
ers, teaching is more than a job for
which they have studied and prac-
ticed and prepared - it is a homecom-
ing.
Jeanne Dehghanpisheh, Debbie
Fereday, Kathy Gans, Cheryl
Knowles, Mike Gantz, Kathy Miller,
Shelly Chamberlain and Bill Willey
all returned to McCall to teach in the
same system in which they were edu-
cated. They recently spoke about their
careers to mark National Education
Awareness Week.
Their experiences are varied.
Willey, Dehghanpisheh and Gantz all
have memories of moving into the
"new" school building at the present
location. Miller remembers coming
to McCall from Seattle and being
shocked to discover that her new read-
ing teacher would be her mother. Gans,
active in school sports, participated in
ski racing at a national and interna-
tional level.
Fereday did not join the school
faculty until 15 years after her gradu-
ation, but did return to live in a one -
room apartment below May Hard-
ware for five years with her husband,
Rick. Knowles is the only teacher in
the system who has taught at the el-
ementary and at the high school at the
same time.
Chamberlain began teaching in her
hometown of Donnelly, at the junior
high, only to move later to the high
school in McCall.
But all eight teachers share their
feelings of gratitude fora community
where, as Chamberlain said, "Parents
still care about their kids and want the
best for them."
In recounting the choices he faced
in his senior year, Gantz said, "The
decisions I made, and have since made,
are all a reflection of the influence
that this community and school have
had on me."
Willey added, "Being a teacher
and coach at McCall - Donnelly is my
chance to give back some of what was
given to me."
These returning graduates bring a
community perspective to their teach-
ing. Gans says that for her as a stu-
dent, "MDHS was like a second home.
I was challenged, encouraged, disci-
plined and recognized. Now, as a
teacher, MDHS is still like a second
home."
Miller said that when her students
ask her if it is "weird" teaching at the
place where she went to school, she
answers, "No, I am back with very
talented people who care about kids."
"I wanted to be a teacher after only
three days with my first grade teacher,
Mrs. Prince," Dehghanpisheh said.
"Little did I know that I would get the
opportunity to teach in the terrific
elementary school which was built
when I was in the second grade!"
There is a strong sense of commit-
ment among these returning gradu-
ates as well. "(I'm) amazed at how
much there was here to learn that I
didn't take advantage of as a student,"
Knowles said. "I've returned to re-
learn as a teacher."
Fereday is proud of being involved
with students in the Future Leaders of
America. This group alone donated.
$1,800 to the Payette Lake Trails
Project through their annual Fashion
Event.
An African proverb states that "It
takes a village to raise a child." These
eight teachers, along with many other
productive members of our commu-
nity who got their start in our schools,
are living proof that this "village" is
following that path.
S ;`a I- fVe LkJS Ma l-c H -J3 ; i g q 5
Lowder accepts job as
M,,D c hief
Dr. Steven A.
Lowder
BY ROGER PHILLIPS
The Star-News I +
Dr. Steven A. Lowder of FortunA,
Calif., has tentatively accepted an
offer to become the next superinten-
dent of the McCall - Donnelly School
District.
The M -D Board of Trustees was
expected to formally hire Lowder at
a special meeting Wednesday night.
Results of the meeting were not avail-
able at press time. .
Lowder's two -year contract will
be for $66,000 per year. The contract
will be reviewed annually and auto-
matically rolls over for another year
unless the board or Lowder decide to
"With the kids, the staff
and when he was with
patrons and parents,
there was an instant
connection. "
— M -D Trustee Chair Joni Stright
cancel the contract, M -D Trustee
Chair Joni Stright said.
If the Meadows Valley and
McCall- Donnelly districts agree to
form a joint superintendency,
Lowder's pav would increacP 1n
$74,000 per year. Which district pays
what proportion of that amount would
have to be negotiated between the
two districts.
Lowder is expected to start at the
district mid to late June.
After interviewing three finalists,
Lowder was unanimously selected
last Thursday by a selection commit-
tee composed of school
administrators, trustees, teachers and
community members.
Stright said she then took an infor-
mal telephone poll of trustees, who
also were unanimous in their pick of
Lowder. She called Lowder on Fri-
day with the job offer, and he
accepted.
Lowder, 42, has worked the last
nine years 'as the superintendent of
the 400- student Rio Dell Elementary
School District.
Since 1976, he has worked as a
teacher, vice principal, chief district
administrator and superintendent.
Lowder earned bachelor's, mas-
ters and doctoral degrees from
Humboldt State University and a doc-
torate degree from the University of
Southern California.
During the interview process,
Lowder impressed the trustees; staff
and patrons.
"The board was impressed with
his communication skills, his
philosophy on what constitutes a suc-
cessful school system and his educa-
tional track record," said Trustee Bill
Eldredge, who headed the selection
committee. "I think this district will
greatly benefit from his enthusiasm
team- building spirit."
Stright agreed with Eldredge's im-
pressions. "He was an extremely lik-
able person in all the different envi-
ronments," she said. "With the kids,
the staff and when he was with pa-
trons and parents, there was an instant
connection.
"He is very open, has personal
magnetism, tons of energy and gave
us the feeling he has a real vision and
the energy to see that vision through,"
Stright said.
Lowder will replace current M -D
Superintendent Bob Schmitt, who is
retiring after serving two years at his
post.
%Zi lYows
New schools chief Lowder settles into job
BY ROGER PHILLIPS
The Star-News
Now that the marathon job interviews
and negotiations are behind him, Dr. Steven
Lowder, the new, superintendent of the
McCall - Donnelly and Meadows Valley
school districts, i ready to get down to
business.
"I'm very pleased to be here. It's going
to be very exciting," Lowder said.
Lowder arrived in McCall last week
and has hit the grolmd running, but he took
time to talk to The Star -News about his
new job and what he foresees for the future
of school districts.
The 42 -year -old former superintendent
of Rio Dell, a 400 - student district in North-
ern California, is taking over the helm
from Bob Schmitt of the M -D district and
Ron Cummings of the MV district, both of
whom retired.
"I think my number one priority is to
get through all this material," Lowder said,
pointing to stacks of loose -leaf binders
that contains the districts' policies and
procedures.
Other pressing matters at the M -D dis-
trict will be finding a replacement for
Tony McDonnell, the elementary school
principal who recently took a position at
another district, and finding a new home
for the alternative high school.
On top of all that, he still has to move
his family and household to McCall.
Lowder said he finds McCall to be a
friendly, tight -knit community where busi-
nesses accept an out -of -state check without
asking for identification.
"I think my impressions of McCall are
sound. It's a small community with interest
in its children and education," Lowder said.
"It's going to be a great place for my fam-
ily."
Lowder said he expects to learn about
the two districts in the coming year, and
start making changes once he finds where
they are most needed.
He describes his management style as
hands -on. "I like to be involved in every-
thing, to have a finger in every pie," Lowder
said.
There are a "million things to do," he
added, everything from meeting teachers,
staff and students, to assisting in the con-
struction of the new Payette Lakes Middle
School and Donnelly elementary school.
"It's exciting to be working in a district
that is getting new schools," he said.
U
The Long Valley Advocate
M -D teachers come to
agreement with district
MCCALL — The McCall - Donnelly School District reached a con-
tractual agreement with M -D teachers last Monday, meaning a 2.7 per-
cent increase for teacher salaries.
School board chairperson Joni Stright said that M -D teachers agreed
to a contract after the District changed some of the language that some
teachers were concerned about.
Teachers were concerned with a few clauses in the contract that
dealt with parental leave, duty -free lunch hours, and term of contract.
According to M -D elementary teacher and negotiator Kathy Phelan,
teachers were afraid that as the parental leave clause in the contract
stood before, it was discriminatory. Phelan also said that all teachers
in the M -D school district will have the same term of contract, where-
as before they did not.
Just in time for Christmas, teachers will receive retroactive pay that
the 2.7 percent increase now allows them, according to Stright. However,
Phelan said the increase may be too little, too late.
" I think that the teachers are, after having a frozen salary for so
long, finding a 2.7 percent increase a real hardship," she said. "But we
felt accepting the 2.7 percent increase at this time made more sense
after going over the budget."
Phelan said she hopes that teachers will be included in the budget
planning process in the future, so the teachers will be able to give input
on where the money is needed, and perhaps where less is needed.
Phelan also said that most likely, teachers will ask again next year
for a raise.
" I can't imagine that wd. wouldn't ask for a raise. Originally, we
asked for a 6.5 percent increase as our starting point. So, we'd like to
see some increase," she said.
fir Ne
M -D, MV approve deal
to share superintendent
BY ROGER PHILLIPS
The Star-News
The Meadows Valley School
District Board of Trustees hired
two superintendents in one day on
Monday night at their regular board
meeting in New Meadows.
The board agreed to a contract
with the McCall- Donnelly School
District for the services of incom-
ing superintendent Steven Lowder,
and it hired current M -D Superin-
tendent Bob Schmitt as a consult-
ant, making him the interim super-
intendent for Meadows Valley.
Schmitt will be paid $2,000 for
his services, and he will assist in
Lowder's transition into the two
districts, as well as run the M -D
District and assist operations of the
Meadows Valley District.
Former Meadows Valley Su-
perintendent Ron Cummings had
announced his resignation effec-
tive June 30, but he left the position
in March due to ill health.
Schmitt said his consulting deal
with Meadows Valley is completely
outside his contract with McCall -
Donnelly, but it has the blessing of
M -D trustees.
Schmitt said the deal will pro-
vide Meadows Valley with a su-
perintendent, and also provide a
smoother transition.
"I will do what ever needs to be
done until their new super comes
on board," Schmitt said. "I'll be
able to share with Lowder what
ever comes down."
Also Monday, the two school
boards formally agreed to a con-
tract for services when Lowder
takes over in June.
The joint contract is forone year,
starting in June. The M -D district
will handle Lowder's contract,
which is for two years, and bill
Meadows Valley for 20 percent of
the cost of the superintendent posi-
tion for the first year.
The two boards agreed to decide
by next March whether they want
to continue the agreement.
Agri ( do, Igg5
M=D, MV to
share school
management
McCall- Donnelly's new
superintendent will
oversee both districts
BY ROGER PHILLIPS
The Star -News
While not official yet, the McCall -
Donnelly and Meadows Valley boards
of trustees have agreed informally to
share newly hired superintendent Dr.
Steven A. Lowder.
The joint agreement is still subject
to each district's final acceptance.
At a special joint board meeting in
McCall held on March 22, the McCall -
Donnelly trustees directed their
attorney, Bill Killen, to draft a con-
tract outlining a joint agreement.
"It's a consensus that we should
pursue it. We would be foolish not
to," said Darlene Loper, vice chair of
the Meadows Valley board.
The two school boards verbally
agreed to an 80 percent to 20 percent
split for the cost of the superinten-
dent, with M -D taking the larger share.
McCall - Donnelly will handle the
superintendent's contract, then con-
tract out services to the Meadows
Valley District.
The two boards have not tried to
hammer out the exact details of the
agreement because they want to en-
sure there is enough flexibility to make
the situation work for both parties.
They also wanted to give Lowder,
who will arrive in June, the opportu-
nity to provide his opinions on the
agreement.
Retiring M -D Superintendent Bob
Schmitt encouraged the two boards to
form an executive committee consist-
ing of two delegates from each board.
The committee would meet regularly
to survey the progress and work out
any problems that arise in the agree-
ment.
Both boards agreed they will need
a trial period to iron out the kinks in
the agreement, and they agreed on
periodic evaluations, and provisions
for either district to back out of the
agreement with adequate prior no-
tice.
Both boards were also optimistic
the joint agreement will be a mutually
beneficial cost - cutting measure.
"We're going in real positive," MV
Trustee Patsy Michel said.
Lowder, who now works in
Fortuna, Calif., was informed of the
decision between the two districts,
and was in favor of the concept, M -D
Trustee Gerry Ikola said.
Lowder stated in his original inter-
view with the trustees that the joint
agreement was "a sound concept and
a real opportunity to show the schools
are trying to do a good job."
The joint agreement will boost
Lowder's base salary from $66,000
per year to $74,000 per year.
The two districts will split
Lowder's salary package, including
benefits, which is currently expected
to cost $100,700 for the first year.
That is the amount the McCall -
Donnelly trustees have offered in their
latest rounds of negotiations, and Ikola
said Lowder was favorable toward
the terms.
The package offered calls for a
two -year, 240 -day per year contract
with a $74,000 base salary, $14,000
in benefits (including retirement, So-
cial Security and health insurance), a
$5,000 annual travel budget, $800 for
professional association dues, $500
Rotary Club dues, and a one -time
$4,000 moving budget.
In other M -D District news, an
agreement was reached between the
district and Heikkila Funeral Home
last Thursday over a well dispute,
according to M -D construction man-
ager Allan Sorensen.
The Idaho Water Resources Board
is in the process of drawing up the
agreement, Sorensen said.
Funeral home owner Mary
Heikkila had claimed the irrigation
well for the Payette Lakes Middle
School now under construction next
door to the funeral home on Samson
Trail might deplete his well.
The agreement will include provi-
sions for Heikkila if the funeral home's
well ever runs dry, but Sorensen said
the burden of proof would be on
Heikkila that the middle school caused
the problem.
He added there is little likelihood
of any groundwater supply problems
in that area. "No one has had any
trouble with water (in the past),"
Sorensen said.
(V? 34, iKK
e nger, Cantrell
RW ehlin er _11_4 _ I
g Star -News Photo by Roger Phillip
guides activities during P.E. class at M -D elementary.
W ROGER PHILLIPS ��■�■�
he Star-News From there he made a roundabout
Two McCall - Donnelly School journey that included teaching jobs in
district teachers who have 60 years of Labrador, the Philippines, a tour as a
:ombined teaching experience will soldier in Vietnam, then a return to-
,ay a final good -bye to their students teaching in 1972 in Nampa.
end fellow educators this week. He said he started to burn out on
Bob Dehlinger, the elementary teaching early in his career, but his
choolphysical education teacher, and experience in Vietnam made him re-
an Cantrell, the high school indus- alize he wanted to return to the class -
'al arts teacher, are both retiring room.
ter this school year. Both will ad-
ess graduating M -D High School
eniors at Sunday's commencement
Last week, Dehlinger watched pa-
'ently while his students played a
odified baseball game in the school's
Dehlinger invented the game,
hich is a faster -paced version of
aseball where the batter hits the ball
ff a tee, then runs the bases until the
elders can touch every base with the
all. Points are scored for every base
e runners cross, and they can con -
nue running bases as long as each
se is touched.
Over the roar of the kids playing in
e gym, Dehlinger says he has en-
yed his stint teaching "P.E." at the
hool, and he will miss the kids.
"They come to school with a posi-
e attitude and they look forward to
.E.," Dehlinger said. "Very seldom
es a kid not want to play."
But what he said he will miss most
his fellow teachers. "Most of my
'ends are here at the school," he
Dehlinger, 58, started teaching
ck in 1963 at Boise High School.
farewell to M-D
He started teaching in McCall in verted the school's old bus barn into a
1978, and has served as the elemen- shop where he has been teaching
tary school P.E. teacher for the last 16 Woodworking, carpentry, small en-
years. He also held several coaching' gine
c repai Through r and weldin ever the years, he and his since.
positions, including years as head dents have built everything from park
high school football coach.
The walls of Dehli benches to complete single - family
cramped homes. "We were probably one of the
office next to the gym m a ar re stacked first schools in the state to attempt
with balls and other sports equip-
ment , and children's artprojectsadorn that," Cantrell said.
any spots not otherwise occupied. Cantrell feels shop classes give
students an opportunity to excel at
Dehlinger said the greatest reward
of his job was seeing youths develop work outside the classroom. "I think
physically and learn team - building it offers the chance for them to suc-
and social skills, which helps them ceed, especially those who are not
get along well with others and be academically successful," Cantrell
good sports. said.
But the rigors of supervising class The shop class has also served as a
after class of high- energy students direct link between the school and the
has taken its toll, and Dehlinger said community. Through the years,
he can't keep up any more. "That's Cantrell's students have built "just
why I'm retiring. I'm exhausted by about anything anyone wanted us to
lunch," he said. build."
Dehlinger plans to make log fumi- "People want something done and
ture as a professional hobby. it's fun when the kids build it," he
At the high school, Cantrell, 56, said. And he noted that the relation -
was overseeing one group of students ship has been reciprocal.
building a three -piece storage shed, A lot of people in town have been
then showing another group how to willing to help," he said. "There's
use a timing light to tune a pickup always been someone who has been
engine. willing to come in and assist us, so it's
Cantrell started teaching 31 years been nice in that respect."
ago, serving his first two years in Although his teaching days are
Council then coming to McCall, where coming to a close, Cantrell is not
he has taught social studies, English, hanging up his hammer. He plans to
P.E., and industrial arts, also known continue building in a partnership with
as "shop." his son -in -law, Steve Edwards.
5 -r4- �- NeW S
M -D elementary loses
McDonnell as principal
BY ROGER PHILLIPS
the Star -News
McCall - Donnelly Elementary
School Principal Tony McDonnell
officially resigned his position last
Monday after accepting a job as prin-
cipal at the Lena Whitmore
Elementary School in Moscow.
McDonnell said he is leaving for
personal reasons, mainly because he
leas become engaged, and his fiancde
lives and works in Moscow.
McDonnell came to McCall two
years ago after serving one year as the
interim principal at Lena Whitmore
Elementary School.
In McDonnell's letter of resigna-
tion, he thanked M -D trustees for their
support and said that "it is with some
degree of regret" that he offers his
resignation.
"I have enjoyed my job immensely,
finding it both challenging and in-
tensely rewarding," he said. "I have
enjoyed my time and the people I
worked with."
Tony
McDonnell
Interviews
expected to
begin in July
Trustees accepted McDonnell's
resignation at their meeting Monday
night, wishing him well, thanking him
for his work at the district and saying
he will be missed by the trustees.
The trustees were informed of the
pending resignation last week. Board
Chair Joni Stright said the position is
currently being advertised, and a se-
lection committee will begin screening
applicants as they come in.
The board hopes to begin inter-
views in July, and have the position
filled before the upcoming school
year.
Juhe 15 iHg5
,Staa Ne w -_-, tAtile .79, lg95
New schools chief Lowder settles into job,
style of negotiating is not well suited
for school districts, he said.
"Teachers aren't laborers, they're
educators," Lowder said. "We're sup-
posed to be educating students, but
instead we're using time and resources
on negotiations."
And when negotiations become
adversarial, it has a ripple effect on
the community.
"Because we're fighting over
something, it affects the students, the
education system and the commu-
nity," Lowder said.
He feels the first step toward better
relations is open communications and
"getting to understand people's posi-
tions and the reasons behind those
positions."
Lowder is also looking forward to
running the Meadows Valley district.
"That's another exciting place,"
he said. He thinks a joint agreement
between the two districts "makes a lot
of sense" and it will pay off in the
long.
Lowder will soon head back to
California to make his final move to
McCall, where he plans to make his
mark.
"I'm anxious to get more involved
in the community," he said.
School and Donnelly elementary school.
"It's exciting to be working in a district
that is getting new schools," he said. Star -News Photo by Roger Phillips
Dr. Steven Lowder gets acquainted with his new McCall office.
BY ROGER PHILLIPS
The Star-News
"I like to be
Now that the marathon job interviews
He is also interested in the technol-
andnegotiationsarebehindhim,Dr. Steven
ogy grant the M -D district received.
involved in
Lowder, the new superintendent of the
"One of my loves is technology and
McCall - Donnelly and Meadows Valley
communication," Lowder said.
everything, to
school districts, is ready to get down to
He wants the district to be good
have a finger
business.
"I'm very pleased to be here. It's going
stewards of that money, and ensure it
gets maximum benefit from the grants.
in every pie. "
to be very exciting," Lowder said.
"I want to make sure the money
Lowder arrived in McCall last week
doesn't trickle away," he said.
– Dr. Steven
and has h -t the ground running, but he took
And on the big -money picture,
Lowder
time to talk to The Star -News about his
Lowder wants to see the M -D district
new job and what he foresees for the future
stop using federal forest funds to op-
of school districts.
erate schools.
The 42-year-old former superintendent
"My personal feeling is the dis-
of Rio Dell, a400- student district in North -
trict needs to rely on its income alone
ern California, is taking over the helm
to fund its education program," he
from Bob Schmitt of the M -D district and
said. "I think we need to move more
Ron Cummings of the MV district, both of
quickly away from that (forest funds).
whom retired.
That's my biggest worry right now,
"I think my number one priority is to
fiscally."
get throug h all this material," Lowder said,
Lowder is also prepared to take on
pointing :o stacks of loose -leaf binders
another fiscal hot button — teacher
that contains the districts' policies and
salaries and negotiations.
procedures.
"I look forward to negotiations,"
Other pressing matters at the M -D dis-
he said. "We can't be us- against -them.
trict will be finding a replacement for
We have to work together or we'll all
Tony McDonnell, the elementary school
go down the tubes together."
principal who recently took a position at
He said the negotiations process
another district, and finding a new home
has its flaws, and he hopes to see
for the alternative high school.
changes in the future.
On top of all that, he still has to move
The labor- versus - management
his family and household to McCall.
Lowder said he finds McCall to be a
friendly, tight-knit community where busi-
nesses accept an out -of -state check without
asking for identification.
"I think my impressions of McCall are
sound. It's a small communit y with interest
in its children and education," Lowder said.
"It's going to be a great place for my fam -'
Lowder said he expects to learn about
the two districts in the coming year, and
start making changes once he finds where
they are most needed.
a
He describes his management style as
hands -on. "I like to be involved in every-
thing, to have a finger in every pie," Lowder
11
said.
There are a "million things to do," he
added, everything from meeting teachers,
staff and students, to assisting in the con-
'
struction of the new Payette Lakes Middle
style of negotiating is not well suited
for school districts, he said.
"Teachers aren't laborers, they're
educators," Lowder said. "We're sup-
posed to be educating students, but
instead we're using time and resources
on negotiations."
And when negotiations become
adversarial, it has a ripple effect on
the community.
"Because we're fighting over
something, it affects the students, the
education system and the commu-
nity," Lowder said.
He feels the first step toward better
relations is open communications and
"getting to understand people's posi-
tions and the reasons behind those
positions."
Lowder is also looking forward to
running the Meadows Valley district.
"That's another exciting place,"
he said. He thinks a joint agreement
between the two districts "makes a lot
of sense" and it will pay off in the
long.
Lowder will soon head back to
California to make his final move to
McCall, where he plans to make his
mark.
"I'm anxious to get more involved
in the community," he said.
School and Donnelly elementary school.
"It's exciting to be working in a district
that is getting new schools," he said. Star -News Photo by Roger Phillips
Dr. Steven Lowder gets acquainted with his new McCall office.
S to r
M -D hires principal
for elementary school
BY ROGER PHILLIPS
The Star -News
Patty McPherson joined the
McCall- Donnelly School District last
week as the new principal of McCall -
Donnelly Elementary School.
McPherson, 44, was unpacking
boxes and moving into her office on
Monday as the first new students were
registering for school.
McPherson said she had already
returned to her job as vice principal of
the 650- student Spring Creek Elemen-
tary School in Elko, Nev., when she
heard about the opening in McCall
and applied.
She received the job offer, and had
one day to decide to make the move.
"It was very sudden," McPherson said.
McPherson was vice principal of
Elko school for five years before tak-
ing the McCall job. She replaces
former principal Tony McDonnell,
who resigned last spring after two
years to take a similar job in Moscow.
After earning a bachelor's degree
in elementary education at University
of Montana in Missoula, McPherson
taught kindergarten through third
grade in Richland, Wash., for 12 years.
While she was there, she took a sab-
batical to work on her master's de-
gree.
In one year, she earned her master's
degree in administration and social
Patty
McPherson
New M -D
elementary
principal
policy through an accelerated master's
program at Harvard University in
Boston, Mass., and decided to move
from teaching to administration.
"It was just another step, another
learning process I wanted to go
through," she said.
McPherson is in the process of
moving to McCall with her two sons,
Shane, 15 and Jeremiah, 12.
"I think it's a lovely place and I
never would have said yes if I didn't
think they would like it here," she
said.
Being so new to the job, McPherson
shied away from giving her observa-
tions about the elementary school. "I
need time to observe," she said. "From
what I understand, it's a wonderful
school."
News &I 17, I Q45-
Ling Ka l/P y I 311_31y�
McCall- Donnelly academicians
fare well at decathlon
BOISE — The McCall - Donnelly High School Academic Decathlon
team placed fourth out of seven teams in its division in the Idaho State
Academic Decathlon competition at Centennial High School last Friday
and Saturday.
Butte County won the small school division that M -D students com-
peted in with 35,129 points. Shoshone was second with 30,650 points,
Gooding third with 28,921, followed by M -D with 28,874.
There are three grade point divisions in which students compete:
Honors, Scholastic, and Varsity.
M -D results included:
Honors: Allison Gantz, 2nd Fine Arts, 5th Science; Brennan Koch,
1st Interview, 4th Essay, 5th History, 6th Math; Jacob Hall, 1st Science,
6th Speech, 3rd Economics, 3rd History, 4th Overall; Briana Keafer,
10th Language & Literature, 4th Fine Arts, 1 st Super Quiz, 3rd History,
Kelly Patrick, 1st Speech, 5th Science, 5th Math; Tyler Harris, 1st
Economics, 5th Science, 6th Math; Daniel Burns, 4th Interview, 7th
Math.
Scholastic: Mark Ellison, 3rd Math, 6th History; Scott Lowder,
lst Science, 2nd Math, 6th Essay; Jake Liberty, 8th Science, 9th Fine
Arts; Brandon Hanks, 3rd Fine Arts, 5th History.
Varsity: Jesse Warrick, lst Math, 4th Language & Literature, 6th
Science, 3rd History; Tim McCoy, 5th Science, 7th Language &
Literature.
Other things that team advisor Mike Gantz said were notable is that
Koch scored the only perfect score out of the 220 students that took
part in the competition. M -D students also placed first in four of the
nine individual event°.
As a team, the Vandal brains finished fourth in the Super Quiz
event. Most of the team will return next year with the exception of
seniors Koch, Warrick and Liberty. Also, Allison Gantz will be going
to Germany as part of a student exchange program.
10110
Joyce Wenman displays her plaque as school Counselor of the Year.
M -D's Wenman named
Counselor of theYear
McCall - Donnelly elementary
school counselor Joyce Wenman was
recently named Counselor of the Year
by the Idaho School Counselors As-
sociation.
Wenman was recognized as the
top elementary counselor in the state.
Former M -D elementary Principal
Patty McPherson nominated Wenman
for the award, and five other staff
members wrote letters of support for
the nomination.
A selection committee of counse-
lors from districts throughout Idaho
made the final selection. The commit-
tee was looking'for a program that
meet the needs of students, staff and
parents, Wenman said.
In her 10 years as a counselor for
the district, Wenman has put together
a wide- ranging counseling program
that covers both traditional counsel-
ing duties and difficult issues such as
anger management, divorce groups
and stress and anxiety.
Wenman credits the support she
receives from the other staff members
at the school for helping her put to-
gether a first -rate program.
"We are so lucky to have this staff,"
she said. "I think that's what makes
this program different."
`7-11 & Sf'ar - N'o, y,/ s --
/13 / -7r
Price resigns as M -D
High School principal
BY ROGER PHILLIPS
The Star-News
The McCall - Donnelly School Dis-
trict Board of Trustees Monday night
accepted the resignation of M -D high
school Principal Larry Price.
Price was hired in the summer of
1994 and will continue as principal
until his current contract expires on
July 30.
The board and Price issued a joint
statement Monday saying "their cur-
rent employment arrangement is not
mutually satisfying."
"The district recognizes that Mr.
Price has many strengths, which in-
clude, but are not limited to, his abiding
love of children as well as his dedica-
tion and willingness to work for their
education," the statement said.
"Mr. Price feels that his particular
strengths and talents do not meet the
specific needs of the district at this
time," the release said. "The district
would like to thank Mr. Price for his
efforts to reach the district's goal of
making the McCall - Donnelly High
School the best educational environ-
ment for our students."
Trustees formally accepted Price's
resignation at their regular meeting at
the Payette Lakes Middle School.
Price said Tuesday he was not
forced to resign, and called the resig-
nation "an amicable parting of the
ways."
"We both decided we were not
meeting each others needs and it's
time for a change," Price said.
He said the district had not pro-
vided an assistant principal or
additional administrative support for
Larry
Price
Resigned
saying that
he and the
M -D board
"were not
meeting each
other's
needs. "
the high school and he had "carried
the load alone for three years."
"I haven't received the support
promised me when I was first hired
on," Price said. "There's no sense in
beating a dead horse. The school (dis-
trict) doesn't want to go in the direction
I think it should go."
M -D Superintendent Steve Low-
der said the district will soon begin
the search for Price's replacement
and he hopes to have the position
filled by May.
Price came to McCall from Utah,
where he had been principal of Grand
County High School in Moab. He
previously served as principal at high
schools in Bicknell, Utah, and in
Dillingham, Alaska, after teaching 18
years in Ogden, Utah.
He is a native of Burbank, Calif.,
who started his professional teaching
career in art, teaching ceramics, jew-
elry making and sculpture at Weber
State University in Utah.
Star -News Photo by Roger Phillips
Gantz receives teaching award
McCall - Donnelly High School science teacher Mike lyst Award for excellence in teaching. Gantz was nomi-
Gantz, shown here teaching a class, was recently nated by colleagues and past and current students as an
named the winner of the 1998 Chemical Manufac- outstznding chemistry teacher. Gantz will receive a
turers Association Responsible Care Regional Cata- meda: citation and $2,500 cash as part of the award.
M -D teacher Michelle
Harris part of European
education mission
Payette Lakes Middle School
teacher Michelle Harris was
among teachers from through-
out Idaho who spent part of the
summer preparing lesson plans
based on what they saw and
learned during an Idaho Human
Rights Education Center -spon-
sored education mission to
Europe in June.
During the 10 -day mission,
Harris and the other Idaho
teachers visited the Anne Frank
House in Amsterdam and met
with European Union officials,
museum directors, demogra-
phers and immigration experts
in Germany.
They also toured prisons and
interrogation facilities in Berlin
and Leipzig, and visited Nazi
concentration and death camps
in Poland.
Photo courtesy Idaho Human Rights Education Center
McCaII- Donnelly teacher Michelle Harris, left, and Lee Anne
Eareckson, a teacher at Moscow High School, recently visited Berlin's
Kreuzberg Museum, chronicling the lives of immigrants to Berlin over
the years. Both were part of an Idaho Human Rights Mission to Europe
sponsored by the Idaho Human Rights Education Center.
"Our intent was to create a
framework for understanding the
importance of human rights and
to let teachers see for themselves
what happens when those rights
are ignoredortaken away," center
executive director Amy Herzfeld
said.
Participants are expected to
prepare comprehensive lesson
plans that Idaho teachers can
use in literature, social studies,
government and history, said Dan
Prinzing, education director for
the center.
Each lesson plan will include
all materials needed by the
teacher, along with suggestions
for student activities and for ways
to evaluate student learning,
Prinzing said.
Once the lessons are final-
ized, the center will make them
available to teachers through the
center's Web site and classroom
programming.
The center has already pro-
duced, "The History of Human
Rights in Idaho," a comprehen-
sive multimedia prof ect available
on the center's Web site, in CD for-
mat and for live presentation.
The center also provides
leadership training to teachers
in human rights education and
guided tours for thousands of
schoolchildren at the world -class
Idaho Anne bank Human Rights
Memorial each spring.
The mission of the Idaho Hu-
man Rights Education Center is
to promote respect for human
dignity and diversity through
education and to foster individual
responsibility to work for justice
and peace.
51q16 �
Harris: the student
is now the teacher
(Continued from Page A -1)
Harris, 34, teaches eighth
grade language arts at Pay-
ette Lakes Middle School. She
gathered with a knot of McCall -
Donnelly teachers to watch the
launch.
"For anyone to strive and to
push and to work 22 years speaks
volumes of that person, and
Barb Morgan is someone who
saw this dream a very long time
ago and was very much willing
to focus on it and see it through,"
Harris said.
She sees Morgan as a guiding
light in her own life and wants
to be known as a former student
who chose to be an educator in
large part because of Morgan's
influence,
"The choice I made (to be a
teacher) was nestled deep in my
own experience," Harris said.
Former students look on
In the hall of the multipur-
pose room was a table piled with
color photos of crew members.
At the back of the multipurpose
room tables withtray s piled with
veggies and bowls filled with
crackers.
McCall- Donnelly l ligh School
science teacher Kaitli n Crawford
and Todd Fereday were students
in Morgan's last third grade
class before she and husband
Clay and sons Ryan and Adam
moved to Houston in 1988.
Crawford and Fereday, both
now 18, graduated from M -D
High School in June. Crawford
learned from Morgan's example
that perseverance bri ngs its own
rewards, and Morgan's coura-
geous spirit has encouraged
Fereday to travel abroad.
"It goes to show if you try
really hard and work hard for
something, you can succeed even
if it takes a really long time,"
Crawford said.
Wednesday's launch struck
her as "surreal" after the past
delays.
"It's just weird that it's ac-
tually happening," Crawford
said.
Morgan's life also has taught
Crawford that beingfrom a small
town is not a limitation and that
people from small towns can still
accomplish great things and
leave their mark in history.
Crawford and Fereday liked
best that Morgan incorporated
lots of hands -on activities in
the classroom. The approach
madefacts and figures printed in
books come alive, they said.
As third - graders, they cared
forbutterflies, observed afish be-
ing dissected, and experienced
astronaut ice cream, a space suit
and shuttle tiles.
They also got to see many
photos Morgan took of her
training.
"She always brought in more
of the outside world into the
classroom," Fereday said. "She
really gave us a good look at the
future."
The student is now the teacher
Barbara Morgan
inspired Michelle Harris
to be an educator
BY LUCIA V. KNUDSON
The Star -News
Michelle Harris watched star
struck as the rocket bearing the
space shuttle Endeavour roared
off the launch pad at Kennedy
Space Center in Florida Wednesday
afternoon.
On board was McCall teacher
Barbara Morgan, whom Harris had
as a teacher and who inspired her
to become a teacher herself.
About 300 adults and children
watched spell bound as the rocket
blazed into space in an image
projected across the wall of the
multipurpose room of the McCall
Elementary School.
At T -minus 10 seconds, the crowd
chanted the countdown.
After a smooth and flawless take-
off, Morgan and the crew headed
to a two -week mission with the
International Space Station.
See HARRIS, Page A-16
Photo for The Star -News by Matt Mohr Photography
Michelle Harris celebrates
as she watches the launch of
the space shuttle Endeavour
on television during a launch
party Wednesday at McCall
Elementary School. Harris is
a former student of astronaut
Barbara Morgan, who inspired
her to become a teacher.
Change made after study found
roof on most of current school
does not meet building codes
BY LUCIA V. KNUDSON
The Star -News
Most of the building that houses McCall -
Donnelly High School and McCall Elementary
School will be demolished and a new building
with a new footprint will replace it, the McCall -
Donnelly Board of Trustees decided Monday.
The new plan comes after trustees learned
on Nov 1 that the oldest parts of the building,
which date back to 1959, would need to be de-
molished as part of a remodeling plan.
Trustees votedforthe revised concept, which
would cost in full $14.9 million. The cost of
leaving the existing building intact and doing
a remodel that would also bring the building up
to code would have cost $90,000 less.
However, there is only $10.5 million budgeted
for the project from the $28.5 million school
bond voters approved in 2006.
The plan adopted Monday would demolish
nearly all of the existing school, located at
Stibnite and Mission streets.
The only areas left standing, which would be
remodeled, would be the high school gym and
the newer elementary wing that contains the
school's multipurpose room and classrooms.
M -D Superintendent Terry Donicht proposed
to make up the $4 million gap by juggling ac-
counts and investment interest.
Donicht recommended the following, which
the board accepted:
School: M -D to rebuild
most of McCall fda ri I i t yT
(Continued from Page A -1)
Trustee Mary Hart said she
worried about the financing plan,
which would take money away from
the new McCall Elementary School
now under construction and an
expansion of Donnelly Elementary
School.
Donicht and board Chair-
man Douglas MacNichol advised
against another levy because it
would delay the scheduled start of
construction beyond June, when
the current school year ends.
The redesign of the high school
would provide a total of 90,568
square feet of floor space and capac-
ity for about 450 students. The high
school now has 375 students.
Under the plan, the rebuilt area
would cover 44,145 square feet and
the remodeled area would cover
46,423 square feet.
The new layout would provide
a total of 300 parking spaces, but
separate the front and back park-
ing lots with an area of turf on
the west side of the campus front-
ing Mission Street. School buses
would deliver students at the rear
of the building where elementary
• Use $2 million earned from interest on
investing the $28.5 million as the buildings
get built.
• Use $841,000 the board transferredayearago
into construction that is now accruing interest
in a state account and is expected to mature to
$900,000 when needed.
• Transfer $1.1 million from the general fund
into construction. That includes $1 million plus
interest earned through investment by the time
the money is needed two years from now.
Trustees Question Plan
Not all trustees accepted the proposal at first.
Trustee Betty Weida was edgy about dipping
into the district's financial cushion and asked
why not ask voters for a supplemental property -
tax levy or a multi -year facilities -plant levy.
See SCHOOL, Page A -10
students now disembark.
With remodeling, the current
gym would get a new floor and
locker rooms, and the current
multipurpose -room wing would
get a new roof. Both structures
would receive new heating and
air- conditioningsystems, windows
and finishes.
High school Principal Tim
Thomas and architects expect to
meet with high school staff and stu-
dents to figure out how classrooms
will fit inside the new footprint of
the revised conceptual plan.
Y
y i
5
21,638 s.t.
`x.
Sketch courtesy
Design West,
Architect's sketch show the new plan for renovation
of McCall - Donnelly High school. Areas in blue would
be new construction while the existing areas con-
taining the high school gym and elementary school
multipurpose room would be renovated. The rest of
the current building would be demolished.
Donicht
to retire
atM=D,MV
Joint superintendent to step down,
end long commute to be with wife
BY LUCIA V KNUDSON
The Star -News
Terry Donicht, who has been joint superin-
tendent for the McCall - Donnelly and Meadows
Valley school districts for the last five years,
announced his retirement Monday. Donicht, 62,
will leave his post July 31.
"Though I have enjoyed immensely the op-
portunity to work in this district, it is time for
me to pursue other ventures and activities that
retirement will provide," his letter of resigna-
tion said..
I am retiring now because I would like to
pursue other interests outside the field of educa-
tion, such as writing, music, language," Donicht
said in an interview Tuesday.
"Learning is a lifelong experience, and I would
like to continue to learn new things," he said."
That's a little difficult to do when you are trying
to administer two school districts. I also plan to
drown a few worms over the next few years."
With time to spare, Donicht plans to tackle a
backlog of home repairs.
He will have more time to spend with his
wife, Candis, who is superintendent of the
Moscow School District. Holding down jobs and
households in separate cities meant the couple
shuttled between McCall and Moscow to see
each other.
Thirteen years prior to that, they were com-
muting between Salmon, where she was school
superintendent, and Twin Falls, where he held
the same job.
"We commuted every weekend since 1990 with
the exception of threrfourwdekends when bad
weather cjosed'the roads," Donicht said.
Candis Donicht will stay at her job in Moscow,
while her husband enjoys retired life.
For the time being, the Donichts will retain
their house in McCall and decide what to do later
with their two homes.
See DONICHT, Page A-10
"Learning is a
lifelong experi-
ence, and I would
like to continue
to learn new things. That's
a little difficult to do when
you are trying to adminis-
ter two school districts."
—TERRY DONICHT
Donicht retirement
raises questions on
M -D, MV agreement
BY LUCIA V. KNUDSON
The Star -N@` s
The decision by Terry Donicht to retire as
superintendent of the McCall - Donnelly and
Meadows Valley school districts comes at the
same time as a discussion to continue the joint
arrangement.
Representatives from the MV board of trust-
ees said Monday they were prepared to continue
the joint superintendent agreement that has
existed for the past 13 years. But that was before
Donicht announced he will retire in July.
The agreement, first adopted in 1995, is re-
viewed annually.
Underitsterms,M- Dpaysthe superintendent's
salary and benefits, and MV reimburses M -D for
20 percent of the expenses. This year, Donicht
will receive a combined salary of $112,233,$90,033
from M -D and $22,200 from MV.
The MV boardhas beenpleasedwithDonicht's
service and prior to Monday's meeting decided
to go with the agreement another year with the
understanding Donicht would be on board. MV
trustee Barbara Dixon said she andfellow trustee
Holly McDonald would have to report back with
the retirement news and their trustees decide
again what to do.
"Our board agreed to further the agreement
with Dr. Donicht but not with an unknown en-
tity," Dixon said.
MV does not have the funding to pay its own
superintendent unless the district drastically re-
aligns administrative duties, she said. That could
mean cutting the vice principal position to pay
for a combined supervisor - principal position.
See DISTRICTS, Page A -10
Donicht
(Continued from Page A -1)
While superintendent for M -D
and MV, Donicht sought to lead
the schools toward providing
students better with the. means
to succeed in life. That meant not
just developing knowledge, skills
and abilities, but providing the
funding, teachers and facilities
to attain those goals.
"I believe that my major ac-
complishment has been to leave
each school district in which I
have worked a little better after I
leave than it might have been be-
fore my arrival," Donicht said.
Donicht is confident trustees
and a new administration will
carry on with the massive con-
struction project funded by a
$28.5 million bond issue passed
by voters in 2006.
The new Barbara R. Morgan
Elementary School and expan-
sion of Donnelly Elementary
School will be completed before
he leaves office.
Trustees declined Donicht's
offer to stay on part time to over
seethe rebuilding of McCall-Don-
nelly High School..
"There is no reason to believe
they are incorrect in making that
decision," Donicht said.
Donicht was born in Pocatello
and graduated from Pocatello
High School. He earned a bache-
lor's degree in 1976 and a master's
degree in 1968 from Idaho State
University in Pocatello.
He was drafted into the Army
after college and spent a year in
Vietnam. He left the service with
the rank of staff sergeant.
His career as an educator
started in 1970 at White Pine
County High School in Ely, Nev.
His first job as an administrator
was as high school principal in
Challis, where he was later pro-
moted to superintendent.
He served a two -year stint
with the Idaho Department of
Education from 1984 to 1986
where he assisted with writing
Idaho teacher evaluation regula-
tions before becoming assistant
superintendent for the Blackfoot
School District in Blackfoot.
Donichtbecame secondary ed-
ucation director at the Pocatello
School District from 1987 to 1990.
He joined Twin Falls School Dis-
trict after that and held the post
of superintendent 13 years until
he was hired by M -D.
Donicht's yearly salary is
and $22,200 as MV superinten-
dent.
Prep Sports Page The StarNews
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http:// www. mccallstamews .com/pages /prep_schools _page.php
Page 1 of 1
4/4/2013
Prep Sports Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1
Monahan. Weiskircher Win RI-D Geographv Se,
Fifth- grader Nicholas Monahan and eighth grader Bailey Weiskircher will represent the McCall -
Donnelly School District on Friday at the 2013 Idaho National Geographic Bee.
Monahan, who attends the class of Mary Wells at Barbara R. Morgan Elementary
School, earned the right to attend the state event in Rexburg after winning the Morgan
3 * school bee.
' He won the bee by correctly answering the question, "Tierra del Fuego is shared by
Argentina and what other county?" (A: Chile).
""�'- Weiskircher, daughter of April and Jeff Weiskircher of McCall, won the bee held at
Bailey Payette Lakes Middle School.
Weiskircher
will represent
Payette takes The winner of Friday's state contest will receive $, a DVD called "The Complete National
Middle School Geographic," and a trip to Washington, D.C., where the winner will represent Idaho in the
at Friday's
national finals to be held May 20-22.
2013 13Idaho Y
National
Geographie The first -place national winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship and lifetime
Bee membership in the National Geographic Society.
http: / /www.mccallstamews.com /pages /prep_schools _page.php 4/4/2013
Prep Sports Page The StarNews
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Page 1 of 1
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Prep Sports Page The StarNews
M D's Monahan takes second at Geography See
Fifth - grader Nicholas Monahan took second place on Friday at the 2013 Idaho National Geographic
Bee held in Rexburg.
Monahan lost in the final round to Amrit Singh, a seventh grader from Grangeville Elementary/Middle
School in Grangevilte.
Monahan, who attends the class of Mary Wells at Barbara R. Morgan Elementary School, earned the
right to attend the state event in Rexburg after winning the Morgan school bee.
Eighth - grader Bailey Weiskircher of Payette Lakes Middle School competed through the fifth round.
That was an improvement over last year, when Weiskircher was eliminated in the second round.
Singh will represent Idaho in the national finals to be held May 20-22 in Washington, DC.
The first -place national winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship and lifetime membership in
the National Geographic Society.
Page 1 of 1
t(
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This week's front page stories
M -D may pay fees for some classes
Sports, field trips would not be covered
BY KYLA SAWYER
for The Star -News
McCall- Donnelly School District trustees are considering having the district pay for some of the fees
now paid by students or their parents.
Fees for art, engineering technology, nutrition and food, physical education, teen living, interactive
media -video and weight training could be covered for next school years, trustees said at the regular
meeting on Monday.
The district may also consider covering fees for courses such as band and required middle school
music classes.
Fees for sports or field trips would not be paid by the district under the proposal, board chair Kathy
Deinhardt -Hill said.
"Where there are fees for the kids to be able to participate in those required classes, the school district
should consider picking up those fees," Deinhardt -Hill said.
"The board is intent in making sure students are not charged for fees within the school curriculum
across the district," Superintendent Glen Szymoniak said.
During Monday's meeting trustees requested Syzmoniak and staff prepare a report on what fees are
associated with required classes versus elective classes.
"It's prudent we level the playing field," trustee Pattie Soucek said.
"We need to look at making it easier for parents and students trying to take required courses," Soucek
said.
Page 1 of 1
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Prep Sports Page The StarNews
1
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http:// www. mccallstamews .com/pages /prep_schools _page.php
Page 1 of 1
4i' V2013
On Campus
3 from M -D qualify for national health conference
Three students from McCall- Donnelly High School have qualified for a national
conference on health professions.
Justin Greer, Lonney Spencer and Weston Appa qualified to attend the
YOUTH MOVEI
National Health Occupations Students of America Leadership Conference in
Nashville, Tenn., in June.
c
The three were among a team of M -D students who attended the state HOSA
leadership conference in Boise earlier this month.
At the state conference, Greer placed second in Medical Law and Ethics,
Spencer placed third in Nutrition and Appa placed third in Medical Spelling.
"
The HOSA Bowl team of Appa, Spencer, Greer and Mallory Herbst placed fifth
at the state competition.
Meadows Valley rte
Wads. From left, are
also placed fourth in Medical Terminology and Bryn Kennell p laced
, Isaac Bross(
Howla nd, Kayson
seventh in Extemporaneous Writing.
Howland, Nate olso
The students now need to raise money to travel to the Nashville event.
Donations can be sent to HOSA c/o McCall- Donnelly High School, 401 N.
Mission St., McCall, ID 83638. Attn.: Lynne Edwards or online at the M -D web
store at www.mdsd.org and look for the students under "Featured."
The M -D HOSA group would also accept items donated for a raffle. Please
contact Pam Davis at 634 -2218 or padavis @mdsd.org.
The Health Professions Program at M -D allows students to take classes in
health care topics for college credit.
Students can take orientation to Health Professions, Anatomy and Physiology,
Nursing Assistant and Medical Terminology.
Graham Pinard will teach an Emergency Medical Responder class next school
year.
McCall - Donnelly Hi
conference ofthe Na
are, from left, Lonnc
Herbst, and Bryn Ke
http: / /www.mccallstarnews.com /pages/ archive _2013 /04_25_13_webeditioii/ Copy %20of %20prep_schools page.php 5/28/2013
high school named to Newsweek's list of top schools
13Y KYI.A SAWYER sIgl1g
Ibr I lie Star-NoN.,
McCall- Donnelly High School has made Newsweek's 2013 list of the nation's top 2,000 public high
M -D was ranked number 1,184 and one of only five Idaho public schools that made the elite list.
The ranking highlights the best public high schools in the nation that have proven to be the most of
graduates, according to Newsweek writer Lauren Streib.
"This recognition is especially meaningful for a district like ours with all schools feeding into a tradit,
Glen Szymoniak said.
"The award illustrates the outstanding instruction and opportunities provided by the faculty at McCe
tribute to the impact that teachers throughout the district have on the success of our students," Szym
The list ranks schools that best prepare their students for college using the factors that Newsweek
best indicators of college readiness.
Those standards include graduation rates, participation in college -level advanced placement and it
and acceptance into a two -year or four -year college program, Streib said.
Components used to determine ranking included graduation rate, college acceptance rate, AP /IB /A
SAT /ACT scores, average AP /IB /AICE scores, and percent of students enrolled in at least one AP/113
The other Idaho public high schools named to the list and their rank were Coeur d'Alene Charter At
High School (865), Carey School (1,001) and Sugar -Salem High School (1501) located in Sugar City
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Prep Sports Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1
M -D program gives students a preview of careers
Classes are tailored to jobs available in McCall
"The program gives you a good base of knowledge in this field so you have something to
help when "u (in college). "— Mallory Herbst
BY KYLA SAWYER
for The Star -News
Mallory Herbst has already chosen a career path and has employable skills thanks to the Health
Professions program at McCall- Donnelly High School.
"This is where I found out that I wanted to go into the
medical field," said Herbst, a junior at M- D.```�®
Health Professions is one of four professional technical
programs available to students enrolled at M -D.
The school has made a real effort to help put students on
career paths that are directly related to four of the top
existing industries in the McCall area – health care, food fie,
services and hospitality, business and construction.
In addition to the health care field, students may enroll in IdWall- PotmeRp High School studentsIvestar
business technology, engineering technology education or Wig JuseuGreerandMAor -Herbstattendto
family and consumer sciences, which focuses on catering, thea-paReut, °tell°" dassuuate luurer spMeer
food preparation and culinary arts. AU four studnusare enrolled mthTHea
R cfesstous curriculum at M -P
"The professional technical programs were designed to help students be employable in this area for
the types of industry work available here," M -D Principal Tim Thomas said.
Students who complete a program receive certificates that are industry recognized and can transfer
their training into area schools such as College of Western Idaho, Lewis & Clark Community College or
the Idaho Professional Technical School to advance their skills, Thomas said.
"It's an incredible opportunity because the program gives you a good base of knowledge in this field so
you have something to help when you begin taking tough college classes," Herbst said.
Each of the programs has a community advisory group that meets yearly, Thomas said.
Real -World Partnerships
"These programs need these partnerships for real-world experience," Thomas said.
For example, the CAD class has taken field trips with local architect firms.
Health professions students can work at McCall Rehabilitation and Care Center, and hospitality
students manage the health foods vending machine products available at the high school.
Students can receive certificates right out of high school that allow them to be employable as CNAs,
have an OSHA card or food -safe certificates to work in local restaurants, Thomas said.
"We want 80 percent of our kids to experience a college level course here or complete a program,"
Thomas said.
Fe, seniors Weston Appa and Justin Greer, the training they received through the Health Professions
prog ,am helped them get jobs at McCall Rehab.
"Everybody is looking for CNAs and it's a good fallback because there are jobs everywhere for CNAs,"
Greer said.
M -D started offering classes in professional technical programs in 2004, Health Professions instructor
Pam Davis said.
"What I've noticed is the kids that go through these programs are more successful at the college and
university level," Davis said.
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Prep Sports Page The StarNews
M-D foundation awards grants totaling $34,700
The McCall - Donnelly Education Foundation last week
gave out six grants totalling $34,700 to local schools and
organizations.
Here is a list of the recipients:
• Project Based Learning for Science and Health: $10,000.
McCall- Donnelly High School science teacher Debbie
Fereday will purchase science monitoring equipment and
technology so students can study soil moisture, temperature
and PH, do water quality studies and experiments on force
and motion as well as magnetic fields.
Donnelly Elementary School Greenhouse: $10,000.
Teachers will work to improve the healthy eating habits of
their students by learning the importance of growing their
own vegetables.
• Diverse Learning Opportunities Program : $5,300.
K
dreeptugg acts from the AIcC.•dt- Domtell�
Educahou Fouudnhou on beW of their
orgamzauons were, from left, George Pool of the
Pacette Lakes Commmixtr _Association, Deb
Peredaf of D1w.11- Donnelly i5git 3cl»ot Jew,
Schon of the McCall Oxtdoa• Saence School
Debbie McCoy of Damelly Elementan• School, and
Colby 14dsm of the Payette Lakes Ski Club
The Payette Lakes Community Association's After School Program at Barbara R. Morgan Elementary
will further healthier lifestyles through physical activity and nutrition programs.
• Heartland High School STEM Education: $4,000.
McCall Outdoor Science School will deliver a three -week outdoor science, technology, engineering
and mathematics program to Heartland High School students.
• K -6 After School Program: $4,000
Payette Lakes Ski Club will be able to fund scholarships for elementary students who need help
paying their program fees.
• Elementary Spanish Club: $3,000.
Lida Clouser will offer free Spanish /English education for McCall - Donnelly elementary age students
and their caregivers at Barbara R. Morgan Elementary School.
The McCall- Donnelly Education Foundation has awarded 54 grants for $261,000 since 2007.
The foundation's purpose is to support and enhance quality educational programs for every student in
the M -D School District.
Page 1 of 1
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rn 2013
Prep Sports Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1
Diabetes can't keep M -D senior from getting diploma Saturday
'7 knew it would be a struggle, but I knew I could work hard to get here. " -- Lonney
Spencer
BY KYLA SAWYER
for The Star-News
Lonney Spencer has missed 20 to 40 days of school a year while attending McCall - Donnelly High
School, but that has not stopped Spencer from reaching his goal of graduating on Saturday.
Spencer will be among 62 graduating seniors of M -D High School and �--
Heartland High School to be celebrated in ceremonies set to start at 2 p.m.
Saturday at the high school gym. �
1••
During the event, the audience will be addressed by valedictorian Bennet Roper
and salutatorian Madison Lowe before the traditional awarding of diplomas.
Spencer was diagnosed in 2005 at age 10 with Type I diabetes. Now 17, he has
been in and out of hospitals because of the disease since he was in fifth grade.
p♦
"I knew it would be a struggle because of the time I've missed in school but I ! r'
knew I could work hard to get here," he said.
In Type I diabetes, the body does not produce insulin the hormone that is OJT
YP Y P Lrnn,ecsperer
needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily
life. Only 5 percent of people with diabetes have this form of the disease, according to the American
Diabetes Association web site.
Lonney and his twin brother, Ray, who does not have diabetes, will both graduate with the Class of
2013 on Saturday.
M -D's attendance policy typically allows six excused absences per year, but does allow for extended
absences related to illness.
"Homework has been really important," Spencer said. "Doing all the classes that are required. I haven't
had a free period until this semester."
For his senior project, Spencer decided his topic was a natural choice - diabetes.
"I've had my gallbladder taken out, I have to watch what I eat and drink, 1 can't drink a lot of soda or
sweets," he said "I have to take shots and check my blood sugar several times a day."
Despite his struggles, having the disease also inspired his future career path, Spencer said.
"Because of my experience, I really have been drawn into the medical field and helping people," he
said. "I like the feeling you get because you know you are helping someone."
Spencer completed M -D's Health Professions program as a part of the Professional Technical classes
available at the school. Last semester he worked as a certified nursing assistant at McCall Rehabilitation
and Care Center and plans to use those skills in a part-time job while attending Treasure Valley
Community College's nursing program in the fall.
"My plans are to come back to McCall and work at the hospital or at the care center," Spencer said.
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Prep Sports Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1
Deaf teacher 'speaks' to Morgan science students
BS- KYLA SAWYER
for The Star-Nees
Mikkel Nelson had students at Barbara R. Morgan Elementary School laughing at his jokes last week.
But he couldn't hear them.
Nelson who was born deaf, used sign language and
interpreter to explain to students how the human ear works
/h
and answered questions about how he communicates
"I can't hear sounds but I can feel vibrations," said Nelson,
;.,, ; _' > ttt 7"
who is a mentor and educational specialist for Idaho
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"For example you might hear an alarm clock to get up in
the morning," he said. "My alarm clock vibrates my bed and
that's how I know it's time to wake up."
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second -grade teacher Kim Hamilton said
"We also have a story in our reading series that uses sign language," Hamilton said.
The book, "Moses goes to a Concert,' by author Isaac Millman, tells the story of a boy named Moses
and his school friends who are deaf.
Although the children can't hear, they have a lot to say using American Sign Language and facial
expressions and enjoy activities using their other senses.
"The students really enjoy it and I think that students are surprised to see that deaf people can do
everything that hearing people can," Hamilton said.
http://www.mccallstamews.com/pages/Prep_schoolsLpage.php 5/30/2013
Prep Sports Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1
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http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /prep_schools _page.php 5/30/2013
Prep Sports Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1
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http:// www. mccallstamews .com/pages /prep_schools _page.php 5/30/2013
Prep Sports Page The StarNews
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http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /prep_schools _page.php 5/30/2013
Prep Sports Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1
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http:// www. mccallstamews .com/pages /Prep_schools _page.php 5/30/2013
This week's front page stories
A Big Zero: M -D can't find math teacher for next school year
BY KYLA SAWYER
for The Star-News
McCall - Donnelly High School is struggling to find a math teacher in time for the start of the 2014 -15
school year.
The district has been actively looking for a qualified person to teach Algebra I through Calculus
Gasses since April, M -D Principal Tim Thomas said.
"There's a shortage of math teachers as a whole across the country," Thomas said. "We are
essentially competing against major companies that can offer someone with a math or science degree
much larger salaries."
The higher cost of living in McCall and Idaho's limit on of out -of -state experience credit that can be put
towards the salary pay scale are also major obstacles, Thomas said.
"When people start digging in to the logistics of moving here and see the rental or housing market
costs it's been a game changer," he said.
Also, the state only credits out-of -state teaching applicants with up to eight years of experience to put
towards the salary scale, M -D School Superintendent Glen Szymoniak said.
'We've had several applicants that have looked good, we did interviews, they were approved by the
board, but when we offered the job to those applicants they had taken a job elsewhere," Szymoniak
said.
The district would like to have a high school math teacher no later than the second week in August.
However, the district is looking at alternative solutions.
"We're having to do some 'out of the box' thinking such as going to colleges and trying to recruit
qualified math teachers," Thomas said. "That's a different mindset than listing a job and having
applicants fall in your lap."
The district is also considering paying existing staff to teach extra classes, as well as considering the
use of online teachers through the Idaho Digital teaming Academy, Szymoniak said.
"Essentially we would have a classified staff member in the classroom and have students learning the
subject matter from an accredited online teacher based somewhere else in the state," he said.
Page 1 of 1
http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /fp_stories _page.php 7/24/2014
Star -News News Lead Story Page
Three finalists named for M -D school superintendent
Short list includes Foudy, Lewiston principal, Mont superintendent
BY TOM GROTE
The Star -News
Three finalists were announced on Monday to be the next superintendent of the McCall- Donnelly
School District.
The public will get to meet the finalists at a open house
scheduled for 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. next Thursday, April 2, in
the McCall - Donnelly High School commons.
The public is also invited to watch the M -D board of
trustees interview the three finalists starting at 6 p.m. April 2
in the Douglas A. MacNichol Building located next to the
high school. The public will not be allowed to make r
comments or ask questions during the interviews. "° ° °•
FROM LEFT: Ktisty Brinkerhoff, J.T. Stroder, Jim
Foud_v
The three finalists are:
• Jim Foudy, the current interim M -D superintendent who was appointed in December after former
superintendent Glen Szymoniak resigned without explanation after six years in the job.
• Kristy Brinkerhoff, principal of Orchards Elementary School in Lewiston.
• James "J.T." Stroder, superintendent of schools in Gardiner.. Mont.
Seven applications were received for the position, a news release from the school district said.
The district declined a request by The Star -News to release the applications, including those of the
finalists, saying they were personnel records and therefore exempt from disclosure under Idaho's public
records law.
However, the candidates voluntarily provided information about themselves.
KRISTY BRINKERHOFF
Brinkerhoff joined the Lewiston School District in 1999 as a substitute teacher and became an
elementary teacher in 2001. She was named principal at Orchards Elementary School in 2006. Her
current salary is $83,200.
Brinkerhoff said she applied for the M -D job "because this area continually draws my husband and I
back multiple times a year."
"We are in awe of the natural beauty and loveliness that is afforded in McCall and Donnelly," said
Brinkerhoff, who declined to reveal her age.
Brinkerhoff has been "a great asset" to Lewiston schools, Superintendent Bob Donaldson said.
"She has refined her administrative skills and will continue to make a great contribution in any position
she accepts in the future," Donaldson said.
"She is great educator, one of the best, and we would consider her departure a great loss," he said.
James "J.T." Stroder
Stroder became superintendent of Gardiner Public Schools three years ago. His salary is $87,000.
The K -12, one- building school serves about 250 students in Gardiner, Mont., which is located at the
north entrance to Yellowstone National Park.
"I am applying at McCall because it has always been a place where we spent a lot of time when I was
a superintendent in Idaho at Camas County," said Stroder, 46.
He considered applying when Szymoniak was hired six year ago but decided he was not ready for the
job.
"Since then I have been at a turnaround district in Texas and ultimately wanted to come back to the
mountains," he said.
Stroder's driving force is his commitment to students, said Patricia C. Baltzley, who is chair of the
Gardiner School Board.
"His decisions are always based on whether or not it would be good for the students in the long run,"
Baltzley said "He appreciates the use of data and collects and analyzes it on a regular basis."
Stroder developed a strategic plan with the community "and he is good in reminding the board that
decisions should be based on this dynamic strategic plan," she said.
"He is an excellent problem solver, and with several tragedies in the school community this year, he
provided the leadership needed to support the students, the parents, and this small community," Baltzley
said.
Page 1 of 2
http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /leadpage.php 3/26/2015
- Star -News News Lead Story Page Page 2 of 2
JIM FOUDY
Foudy, 44, has worked for the school district for 11 years, the first five of which were spent as principal
for both McCall and Donnelly elementary schools.
He became principal of Barbara R. Morgan Elementary School when that school opened its doors in
2008. He eams $85,000 per year.
Foudy announced last month his intention to apply as permanent superintendent.
"This change has given me new energy, appreciation and hope for our district," Foudy said at the time.
'I have a skill set that seems to work well, as long as I continue to focus on service to others."
Back
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