Two Montana administrators and two whose school experience has mainly been in Washington want to replace MCPS Superintendent Jim Clark, who is retiring at the end of June. All four attended a public open house at the Missoula Children's Theatre Sunday evening.
About 100 people came and went over the hour-and-a-half gathering. The four candidates all spoke informally with small groups but did not make prepared statements.
“The world has changed,” Patrick said. “I don't see going to metal detectors (in the schools), but if there's a need for extra school resource officers, I would support it.”
Selah School District Superintendent Larry Parsons wrote his doctoral dissertation on school violence. He said he wasn't a fan of security cameras or metal detectors, but agreed they were becoming standard.
“I understand they have their place,” Parsons said. “The best thing you can do to keep kids safe is have great relationships with kids. We don't want to lose sight of that. We have to spend money to keep kids safe, and it breaks my heart because it's money that comes out of the classroom. Every time you ratchet up security, you ratchet down the education that you want.”
Alex Apostle is currently a private real estate investor in Scotsdale, Ariz., but spent 30 years as a teacher and administrator in the Tacoma, Wash., area. He said he would put his emphasis on his staff's capabilities.
“You can buy locks and put doors up and blockades and all those different things,” Apostle said. “But you need to make sure schools are safe and caring environments. You need to have programs that draw students to them, so they feel school is supportive of their needs and interests. And you need trained personnel so when they spot a student who could cause a problem, we can provide them with the support and help they might need.”
Anaconda Public Schools Superintendent James Whealon spoke of extensive personal experience dealing with danger, including three shootings, 22 bomb threats and a recent case in which an adult threatened to cause harm at a school building.
“We put cameras in, and it was very successful,” Whealon said. “It ended our bomb threats. You hate to do that, where you feel like Big Brother's watching. That's not where we want to be. If you catch yourself in a position where you're watching what the kids are doing, watching who's holding hands down the hallway, you've moved beyond that. But even with nonviable threats, you have a responsibility to make sure kids are safe, and to make parents comfortable that their kids are safe.”
Apostle and Parsons will have their formal interviews with the MCPS School Board Monday starting at 5:30 p.m. Patrick and Whealon will have their interviews Tuesday, starting at 3:45 p.m. All interviews take place in the MCPS Business Building, 915 South Ave.
Each candidate will have about an hour to discuss his qualifications and answer prepared questions from trustees. The board members have already developed a slate of topics for every candidate to speak on.
School administrators, teachers and staff will also be meeting with the four candidates Monday. On Wednesday, the School Board will take public comment on the candidates and issues trustees should consider in their decision. If possible, the trustees may deliberate and choose a candidate at that Wednesday meeting.
However, they also have the option of seeking further interviews, site visits to the candidates' home districts or other research. The School Board has tentatively slated its March 11 regular meeting to ratify a contract, if it has reached an agreement with a chosen candidate.
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