Five vie for Whitefish School Board seats

Election is May 6

By OLIVIA KOERNIG / Whitefish Pilot

Two incumbents and three new candidates will vie for three open school-board trustee positions in next month's election.

Incumbents Dave Fern and Eric Hosek are seeking re-election. Other candidates are Brian McDowell, Stephanie Kenkel and Mary Vail.

Two mill levies also will be on the ballot. The district is requesting $64,919 for the K-8 schools and $46,214 for the high school. The election will be May 6 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the school district board room in the Whitefish Middle School basement.

Dave Fern

Dave Fern, a small business owner, has lived in Whitefish for the past 20 years, with 15 of those years spent serving on the school board. He's married with two children attending college and another who has already graduated from college.

Fern serves on two statewide education boards. He's a member of the executive board for the Montana High School Association, which oversees all extracurricular activities, and also has been a member of the Montana School Board Association for 10 years. Although he's never been professionally involved with education, he's a longtime volunteer.

"The greatest qualification I have for this role is that I'm constantly curious about the business of education," Fern said. "I read a lot on the

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subject."

On the topic of random student drug testing, Fern is yet undecided. He said he's still gathering information and that he has a number of questions he needs answered before he would endorse the proposal.

"Ultimately this issue, along with how we deal with drug use among the student body, may deserve an additional committee," Fern said. "It would be helpful for such a controversial issue."

As for the issue of high school renovation and expansion, Fern said he sees another bond proposal in the future, perhaps within the next one to three years.

"We understand the needs, now we need to come up with a realistic proposal" he said. "I foresee going through a multi-committee structure."

Eric Hosek

Eric Hosek, a financial consultant with D.A. Davidson & Co. in Whitefish, has lived here with his wife since 1981. Both of his children attend Whitefish High School.

Hosek is finishing his first three-year term with the school board and works with the Whitefish Education Foundation. In addition, he's served as a coach and is still active in youth hockey. He also taught for more than 10 years in an outdoor education field.

"To be relevant, public education has to keep pace with change," Hosek said. "I am a proponent of teaching for the 21st century. We are educating children for jobs and careers that do not even exist yet."

Regarding random drug testing, Hosek said, "the Board of Trustees needs to finish their assessment of what Whitefish will support, obtain comprehensive professional and legal advice and then adopt the best practice policies and operational procedures that will be effective across the broadest range possible."

Hosek said he sees another high school bond initiative as early as 2009, adding that he wants to re-evaluate the architectural process and campus priorities.

"I would like to see the district and high school begin working with the community — both yes and no voters — after the current school year," he said.

Stephanie Kenkel

Stephanie Kenkel has been married for 19 years and lived here for 15 years. She has three children, one in each Whitefish school.

Kenkel is a PTA board member, serving as fundraiser chairperson and high school coordinator. She also volunteers with Muldown School's reading program and worked as a facilitator for its Arts in April program. She's also associated with Upward Bound and a state-funded mentoring program for teenagers.

"I am eager to listen to the public," Kenkel said. "Diversity in beliefs is an integral component to solving many issues."

Kenkel opposes random drug testing, saying, "It simply will not solve the real problem. It is imperative that our district further educate our students on the painful realities of drug and alcohol abuse."

Kenkel wants to see another bond proposal designed by proponents and opponents of the bond.

"Together we can arrive at a design and plan that will address the current issues and allow for integrating future educational practices," she said.

Brian McDowell

Brian McDowell, an engineer for BNSF Railway Co., is married with two children. One son currently attends Whitefish High School, another is a recent graduate. He owned a small business here for five years and has served as treasurer for the local United Transportation Union for 12 years.

A graduate of Whitefish High School, McDowell has coached baseball and football and volunteered with the varsity program for the past two seasons.

"I have experienced firsthand the good and the bad within the Whitefish School District," McDowell said. "I feel I could be an asset for future changes that would be positive improvements for the children that we are striving to help."

On the drug policy, he's undecided.

"I'm currently researching the proposal," he said.

Admitting the inherent challenges regarding the aging high school, McDowell remains determined to find the answer that works for all involved.

"With as much research and time that has been put into the subject, I am confident that a middle ground can be reached between the public, the administration and the school board," he said.

Mary Vail

Mary Vail has lived here for four years, but has vacationed here for many more. She's been married 20 years. Three of her four children attend Whitefish High School. The oldest graduated here and attends Flathead Valley Community College.

She's a small business owner and a part-time postal worker. She also volunteers with the Alpine Theatre Project and the Whitefish Theatre Co. She's been a classroom parent helper, a substitute teacher and chaperoned the eighth-grade history trip last year.

"In my last school district, I served on four different school-site councils," she said. "I have a pretty good grasp on school budgets."

On drug testing, Vail is supportive.

"I think it's an excellent tool," she said. "It's a voluntary program. If people are that against it, they don't have to be involved."

Vail said she's seen firsthand many of the facility needs at the high school.

"The board will need to sit down and prioritize what needs to be addressed right now and what can wait until later," she said.