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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 rr Poam by Tam Gmm Nbcholes Moualnw ball relurseut B vibvn R Mcrgau Elemeuta y School at Fnda.ys _oi3ldal» Natiowd G jgaphtc Bee 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 n —­7ems otfm. Nhe-ry \',INDBLS IN 114' -W doaat TIN'xll- Dottttelh" lhgb School students trarledto l\ :,. wtgtou I) i' last treekemd m a tup com•dmated by the (lose-Up Fmmdahou. The studeffisViewed wewotvds and tumtuuwAts. took put w suuuk pons, erahwted ppoohtual debues, and met Who Rep Rail ,kN dor. and Setts 6hke Crapo utdJnu Ruch) Stttdeuts attendmg were Hammh Hurt, Bntaw Phelps. Jesstca Showell— Alm Stmkt %-, Naohn Porte, Katelm Jmettez. Tajm Hill Jetum Bal na vtau t \'elbow, .al}-ssa Tomett, Caleb Balaubuee, H.uma VmL Maduiw Skelton, MAon- HetUc Sache Carte, Jordw Nas, Kathy I,iw tte, Heathe 0a14m l dBtsou Bu&t . S. Y tm Jttshn (:ltaptuw, Collor Love& Hach Ca'ens, <llea a Pickard Page 1 of 1 f http: / /www.mccallstamews. com/pages /archive_2013 /04_ 11 _ 13_webedition/Copy %20oP%... 4//2013 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( http : / /www.mccallstamews.com/pages /archive 2013/04 11_13 webedition/Copy %20of%... 4/2T2013 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 http: / /www.mccallstarnews.com /pages /archive_2013 /04_11 _13_webedition/Copy %20oP /o... 4//2013 Prep Sports Page The StarNews 1 t, I', ILI Pooh mr n. B -Nnn br cn emn CETnNGAGRIP- (lIuwCorbetofAlc( al demawtrates Ins hcch-anhc robot (hnnig a math and sneure fain held FncLic at AlcCall-Dounellu- Mgh School The fan, featured ednbuts from students m l:mdergmteu duot�gh tath gade as well as adults m the couumuuh, 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 http: / /Www.mccallstarnews.com /pages /archive 2013105_09_13_wcbcditionI Copy %20ot %20prcp_schools_page.php 5/28/2013 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. h4 : / /www.mccallstamews.com/pages /archive 2013/05_23_13 webedition/Copy %20of%... 5/10/2013 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 http:// www. mccallstaews .com/pages /archive_2013 /05_23_13 webedition/Copy %20ofO/o... 5/ 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. http://www.mccallstamews.com/pages/prep_schools�_page.php 5/30/2013 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 "{* Educational Services for the Deaf and Blind. . 4 "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." Poop m, u ,,,, r@ lihkkel NeL on o} Idaho Efirahouil 1 mien for This is the second year Nelson has presented at the the nent&Bln,dv4sa joke trvkg -Awmc, Sign L,ng, ge to Barbara R I lmgw Elementary School Morgan school as a art of the communication-teaching unit, 9 P 9 shwients and staff last week 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 Poo. b' —he Wtl ,lppemmgm Mow*a sperformanceot Stackof 11'ax' x�B be, frmrt row from left, Nage C uipum mal IV&oiv Smith, second iow, from Idt. Brenner Rpgh, Ben Knudsm Logo Spade, QuwAon N ;ard QZ on Clmaon, Bare Wolfe, and Brock McKee, tlmd row, from left, N"illow Cog Haum h AoYmtson, YAW 1'rn-kdl. Shn-hv Roea�w. Sopine ME Tessa Jackson, }Laplec Januesou t .vohv I ennky. K.assuh- Puss. Mf k Grace Edwards, mdAshlee Robmson Not pctured are &wmmah thwsbr and Amr Anderson http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /prep_schools _page.php 5/30/2013 Prep Sports Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1 i6am by Mma Iti¢Ya .3-GENERAMoN HIGH -3 - 7free generate" celebrate a team member's putt on S.atur i,•n- dung a benefit golf tournament for the 1,1ctaB- llotnuellc fhgb School gob team held at MW •rB Golf Conde From left are Samson Large, Alanh-n L.vge, shayne Lange and Kubard Lvge The benefit raused abort $•, orx> to purchase egmpment for the \ ;an&d team The dao's eceutwas won by the team of Gage En&ott Kole lkldm Beau Nemrar and Kobe Strog http:// www. mccallstamews .com/pages /prep_schools _page.php 5/30/2013 Prep Sports Page The StarNews — Fmn, &a .— by M < M. TENT lv.�LS aG)OD ONE - .anthom-1 .ald rmn , 8. from TIN :a0. mud" hm next step dmwg buah- chess sight held Last weekend at E.mrbma E Morgan Ek-mentaxy School m Mc CA The ecetaug aRows, stu&-ntts mid aduks to mach wAs over the chess bomd Page 1 of 1 http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /prep_schools _page.php 5/30/2013 Prep Sports Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1 W.3ly M UT - MICA - Domen.% High School foothaU pLlcef Graham Bnky breed the rmn on Saftudac as he wa&M N> Laps around the track at •'+ Rwhardsaba(a Adjetu gm The m -m&- footbffl a& gear The r: ; -mde walk ras dlnanevfrom spottsrns for Bnlec to ,t attend the Pa +u trader Bowl m Amtraha m Juk Pha[o by ah PNrt 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 http: / /www.mccallstarnews .com/pages /leadpage.php 3/26/2015