Did employees and board members at Kalispell Public Schools violate Montana code of ethics?
Multiple records obtained elude to electioneering in the KPS election on May 2
Rules for thee, not for me…
A recent expose of emails and texts revealed that the upcoming May 2nd, Kalispell Public School Board Trustee election show school district officials messaging during school time and using school property to host a panel discussion of potential trustee’s in a possible violation of Montana State Code.
On March 29, 2023 an email was sent from Lynne Rider teacher of mathematics at Kalispell Middle School and mouth piece of the Kalispell Education Association (KEA) while using school equipment to promote an interview panel of potential board of trustee candidates held at Kalispell Middle School in violation of Montana code of ethics:
Montana Code 2-2-212 states a public officer or a public employee may not:
(3) (a) Except as provided in subsection (3)(b), a public officer or public employee may not use or permit the use of public time, facilities, equipment, supplies, personnel, or funds to solicit support for or opposition to any political committee, the nomination or election of any person to public office, or the passage of a ballot issue.
On April 18, 2023, a candidate for the board of trustee’s sent an email to staff attempting to inform Kalispell School employees of their background and campaign.
Shortly thereafter Superintendent of Kalispell Public Schools Micah Hill sent this email to the potential candidate:
Mr. Hill then attempted run damage control by messaging staff regarding the candidates email.
Two days prior this email dated April 16, 2023 explains WHY Superintendent Micah Hill felt the need to protect what had already been decided by the Kalispell Federation of Classified Personnel (KFCP) and Kalispell Education Association (KEA).
On April 19, 2023 at 3:31 PM (during school time) a text was sent to staff notifying them that the Kalispell Federation of Classified Personnel & Kalispell Education Association had endorsed board candidates.
Montana Talks featured this story featuring Kalispell resident Jim Riley on April 19, 2023:
Current Kalispell Board of Trustee’s Scott Warnell and Will Hiatt attended the interview panel to be vetted by KEA and KFCP. Should these two board members resign since they breached Montana code of ethics when participating at Kalispell Middle School on April 3, 2023?
Now that the public is AWARE of these shenanigans by the union Kalispell Federation of Classified Personnel, Kalispell Education Association and Superintendent Micah Hill your CONSERVATIVE vote is very important be sure to make it count on May 2, 2023.
Update 4/25/23: I attended the Kalispell School Board meeting and was immediately confronted by Sue Corrigan a school board member and asked why I didn’t take this story to someone in the school district prior to publishing this story.
I replied, “emails don’t lie.”
I suggested we record her viewpoint regarding the issue of employees and school board members in possible violation of Montana Code of ethics but she refused walked away.
I then decided to ask her on camera about this story.
VIDEO: https://twitter.com/casey_whalen/status/1651086579614756864