Thank you, Commissioner Dupont

GLADYS SHAY / For the Hungry Horse News

It is just coincidence, intuition, or call it what you may, how timely I feel history of Flathead County schools is at this time. It has been two months since I started thinking about and researching these columns.

Meanwhile, the Board of Commissioners of Flathead County is making history now.

Legal notices published Dec. 19 and 26, 2009, state the board "hereby gives notice that it passed a Notice of Resolution of Intention (Resolution No. 2238) on Dec. 15, 2009, to consider the consolidation of the Office of County Superintendent of Schools with the Office of the County Treasurer."

Public hearing begins at 10:15 a.m., Monday, Jan. 4, at the office of Board of County Commissioners of Flathead County, Courthouse, West Annex, Kalispell.

Further information concerning the proposed transfer may be received from, and written comments may be sent to, the Board of Commissioners, 800 South Main, Kalispell, MT 59901, telephone 758-5503.

Commissioner Joe Brenneman, who proposed resolution for consolidation, and Commissioner Dale W. Lauman both approved the resolution. Commissioner Jim Dupont opposed and I thank him.

Continuing with history of rural schools in Flathead County from data compiled July 1, 1973, and updated Feb. 1, 1998, follows:

Creston District #9 is operating. It was created in 1905 from Egan District. First record of an appointed trustee was in June 1893.

Cayuse Prairie #10 is operating. It was created in 1898. It consolidated with Lake Blaine District # 45 on April 12, 1971. Mountain Brook # 62 annexed into Cayuse Prairie on April 29, 1992. First record of an elected trustee was April 1893.

Kila District # 20 is operating. It was created Dec. 8, 1893. Called Sedan until 1914. School listed as Coon Hollow District #20, 1930-31. First record of elected trustee was in April 1898.

Helena Flats #15 is operating and dates back to December, 1893. Old Missoula County #59 changed to Flathead County District #15, Helena Flats. First record of an elected trustee was in April 1896.

Bigfork #36 - #38, is operating. The district was cut from Holt #12, Oct. 14, 1901. New District #38 Bigfork was formed by consolidating District #36 and Glen District #25 in 1932. First record of an appointed trustee was in November 1901.

Pleasant Valley #27 is operating. Created Feb. 2, 1903. Also called Lakeview. Lost Prairie School in this district is not operating but teachers are listed for 1933 through 1958. First record of an appointed trustee was in February 1903.

More Flathead County rural schools will be listed next week.

Gladys Shay is a longtime resident of Columbia Falls and a Hungry Horse News columnist.