Interim superintendent chosen for Whitefish

Dave Means will serve as interim superintendent of Whitefish schools after a candidate who was offered the position declined, citing personal reasons, according board chairman Nick Polumbus.

Means will serve as superintendent until the position is filled. Means brings with him 16 years of experience working in the district as the director of education services.

The Whitefish School District board of trustees made the announcement Wednesday after holding four interviews on March 9 and 10.

“We are grateful for the participation in the superintendent search,” Polumbus said. “After careful consideration and with input from staff, labor management, administration, and the community, the district made an offer to one candidate. The candidate, for personal reasons, declined.

“It became clear to us after discussion with the administrative team that the best choice for the district at this time was to offer Dave Means the position of interim superintendent,” he said. “Dave will provide stability, as well as continuity, and will uphold our collective high standards. Dave’s current position will be filled for the same interim period.”

Means’ current responsibilities include supervising the special education programs and roughly 50 employees working in them, overseeing individualized education plans (section 504 plans) for students with disabilities, supporting human resources in the hiring processes, working on student homelessness and mental-health services, and facilitating counseling agreements with North Valley Hospital. In 2018 he received the CSPD Leadership Award for Region V in Montana.

Ray & Associates, a national executive search firm, has been leading the search for a new superintendent. The firm will continue to assist the trustees in the ongoing search.

The contract for current Whitefish Schools Superintendent Heather Davis Schmidt will end on June 30, when Means will transition into the interim role.