Superintendent of Schools

Call: 406-357-3270
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Superintendent of Schools Overview

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Teacher Info

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Parent Info

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Home Schools

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Transportation

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Contact Info

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Elections

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Other

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Forms

OVERVIEW: SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

The position of the County Superintendent of Schools is elected by the public for a four-year term.  As required by Montana State Law, the County Superintendent must hold a current Montana Teaching Certificate with at least three years of teaching experience.  Blaine County supports 8 independent school districts; Chinook, Harlem, Turner, Hays Lodge Pole, Bear Paw, Cleveland, North Harlem Colony and Zurich.

There are also many families home schooling their children within the county.  These families must be registered with the County Superintendent. 

The County Superintendent is responsible for general supervision of schools that do not employ a district superintendent or principal.  Duties include assisting & directing teachers, assisting the trustees with budgeting & finance, staff recruitment, evaluation and supervision of teachers, curriculum development, teacher in-service training and other school matters.  The County Superintendent is also responsible for financial concerns, transportation, setting county mills for school transportation & retirement as well as centralized clerical & administrative functions as prescribed by law. 

 

Top Things a County Superintendent cannot do

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“Fire” or otherwise remove school trustees. MCA 20-3-310. Trustee removal.

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Superintendent cannot override any decisions made by the school board trustees.

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Order bus drivers to provide door-to-door bus service.

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Hire or fire school teachers or other school personnel. Only a board of trustees may hire or fire teacher or other school personnel. MCA 20-3-324. Powers and duties of trustees

Teacher Info

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OPI link to Educator Licensure

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OPI link to job listings

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OPI Learning Opportunities Portal

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Small Schools Alliance (SSA)

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Golden Triangle Cooperative Consortium

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Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD)

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CSPD Region II

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Montana North Central Educational Services Region (MNCESR)

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Montana Rural Education Association

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Montana Education Association

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Montana Indian Education Association

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Indian Education for All Resources

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Content Standards and Information

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Teacher Learning Hub

Home Schools

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Montana Coalition of Home School Education (MTCHE)

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Homeschool Information

Homeschool packet with Notification form

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FAQ for Montana Home Schools

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MTCHE Guide to Home Schooling

Elections

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OPI Election information

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Election calendar

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Election handbook

Parent Info

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Parent’s Rights Information

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HiSET (Formerly GED) Information

  • HiSET Options Program
  • HiSET Test Taker Information
  • HiSET/ETS Information
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Immunization Exemption Form

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GEMS

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Bullying Information

  • Bully Free Montana
  • Bullying Resources for Parents
  • Bullying Prevention Tips for Parents
  • National Center of Education Statistics
  • Cyberbullying
  • StopBullying.org
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Suicide Prevention & Awareness

  • Montana Suicide Awareness & Prevention Resources
  • Montana Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7
    • 988
    • 1-800-273-TALK (8255)                                                              The previous Lifeline phone number (1-800-273-8255) will always remain available to people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis.
  • Crisis Text Line
    • Text 988
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Human Trafficking & Sexual Abuse

  • Sex Trafficking & Sexual Abuse
  • Department of Justice Montana
  • Lifeguard Group
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Parenting Montana - Tools for Your child's success

School District Info

Bear Paw District #67

Bear Paw Elementary School

29815 Clear Creek Road

Chinook, MT 59523

Phone: 406-395-4436

 

Clerk:

Trisha Gruszie gruszie@itstriangle.com

22820 Cleveland Road, Chinook, MT 59523

Chinook District #10

Meadowlark Elementary School

Phone: 406-357-2033

Fax: 406-357-3146

Chinook Jr./Sr. High School

Phone: 406-357-2236

Fax: 406-357-2238

Hartland Colony School

Phone: 406-398-5313

Superintendent:

Fred Hofman hofmanf@chinookschools.org

 

Clerk:

Moses Deanon deanonm@chinookschools.org

 

Website:

https://chinookschools.org/

Cleveland District #14

Cleveland Elementary School

9785 People’s Creek Road, Chinook, MT 59523

Phone: 406-357-2018

 

Clerk:

Trisha Gruszie; gruszie@itstriangle.com

22820 Cleveland Road, Chinook, MT 59523

Harlem District #12

Harlem Elementary K-6

Phone: 406-353-2258;

Fax: 406-353-2892

 

Harlem Jr./Sr. High

Phone: 406-353-2287

Fax: 406-353-2339

 

Superintendent:

Arlene Bigby arleneb@harlem-hs.k12.mt.us

 

Clerk:

Cassie Handran cassieh@harlem-hs.k12.mt.us

 

Website: https://harlem-hs.k12.mt.us/

Hays/Lodge Pole District #50

Lodge Pole Elementary K-6

Phone: 406-673-3220

Fax: 406-673-3274

 

Hays Jr. High/High School

Phone: 406-673-3120

Fax: 406-673-3415

 

Superintendent:

Paul Condon https://www.hlpschools.k12.mt.us/District/profile/12-Paul-Condon

 

Clerk:

Daralyn Shambo dshambo@hlpschools.k12.mt.us

 

Website: https://www.hlpschools.k12.mt.us/

    North Harlem Colony District #6

    Safe Return Plan Dist. #6 Last Revised May 2023ESSER - Dist. #6 Montana School District ARP ESSER Plan Update.pdf

    North Harlem Colony Elementary School

    755 Hillcrest Road

    Harlem, MT 59526

    Phone: 406-353-2800

     

    Clerk:

    Eli Hofer ehofer@mtintouch.net

    ZURICH ELEMENTARY DISTRICT #17

    Safe Return to School Plan #17

    Zurich Elementary School 

    PO Box 847

    Zurich, MT 59547

    Phone: 406-357-4164

    Fax: 406-357-4299

     

    Supervising Teacher:

    Colleen Overcast  zurichschool@yahoo.com

    Clerk:

    Deanna Gilmore dgilmorezurich@gmail.com

    }

    Hours open

    Monday - Friday

    8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

    Location

    Blaine County Courthouse

    2nd Floor Room 135

    Superintendent of Schools

    Valerie M. White 
    vwhite@blainecounty-mt.gov

    Phone: (406) 357-3270

    Fax: (406) 357-2199

    Deputy

    Mari Anne Skoyen
    mskoyen@blainecounty-mt.gov

    Phone: (406) 357-3270

    Fax: (406) 357-2199

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    Duties of County Superintendent

    (MCA 20-3-205) MCA Title 20

    LINK TO OPI

    Our Office

    Blaine County Courthouse
    420 Ohio St
    Chinook, MT 59523

    Resources

    Jobs
    CIP
    Road Report
    Privacy & Disclaimers

    Office Hours

    Mon-Fri: 8am - 5pm
    Sat-Sun: Closed

    Bio coming soon.

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    Deputy Chris Adair has been with the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office since August of 2012. Since then he has become the Field Training Officer, Firearms Instructor, Armorer, Deputy Coroner, and the Senior Operator for Blaine County’s breath alcohol testing equipment. He also is the DUI Task Force Coordinator. He lives in Chinook with his wife and 2 sons. Previous to living here they were residents of Flathead County.

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    John Colby started his career in Law Enforcement with the Blaine County Sheriff's Department in 1996 as a Detention Officer/Dispatcher. In 1998 he began working with the Harlem Police Department where he served as a patrolman and later as the Chief of Police. In 2001 Harlem consolidated its law enforcement with the Blaine County Sheriff's Department and John Colby remained as a Deputy Sheriff. In 2002 John accepted a job with the Williston Police Department and served as a patrolman and later as a senior patrolman. In 2007 John left the Williston Police Department and went to work for Dyn-Corp in Konduz Afghanistan training the Afghanistan Nation Police. In March 2010 John was returned to Chinook and accepted a position as a Deputy Sheriff with the Blaine County Sheriff's Department. John was promoted to the Lieutenant of the Blaine County Sheriff's Department in 2012. John is one of the Taser Instructor's, Field Training Officer, K9 Handler, and was recently assigned to the Tri-Agency Drug Task Force. John and his wife Dawn have two children JJ, and Aspyn.

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    Robo joined the Blaine County Sheriff's Office in October of 2013. He resides with his handler Sheriff John Colby.

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    Deputy Levi Gonzalez joined the Blaine County Sheriff's Department in January 2018. Levi studied Criminal Justice at Utah Valley University and Excelled in courses such as Criminal Justice, Forensics, and Criminal Law. Along with some formal education, he has trained with professional firearms instructors, and in hand-to-hand combat, to help him pursue his career in law enforcement. He moved to Montana with his wife in March of 2013 and owns a small ranch in Blaine County where he runs a small cow/calf operation. He looks forward to serving Blaine County, where he is happy to call home, with his wife, daughter and son, for many years to come.

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