Briggs sworn into trustee position

It was a night of new beginnings for the Whitehall Schools Board of Trustees.

Following their regular monthly meeting last week, new member Jeff Briggs was sworn in for a three-year term on the board. Briggs will take over for former board member and longtime educator Angie Davis. Whitehall Superintendent John Sullivan thanked Davis for her time on the board saying she kept a level head and was sound with her decision-making. Davis said she really enjoyed her time on the board.

After serving the past three years on the board, Paul Shaw was sworn in for another term. Patti Drake was also sworn in to continue as the Clerk for the Districts.

In the regular meeting, the board approved for new bleachers to be constructed at the Whitehall High School football field.

The cost of the new bleachers is estimated at $83,450, and according to Sullivan will not come out of the budget. Sullivan said they instead will be purchased with funds donated to the schools. The construction of the new and demolition of the old bleachers will be done by Tuck Construction of Billings, who recently put new bleachers in the gym at Jefferson County High School in Boulder.

Sullivan said the new Whitehall bleachers will be elevated two feet off the ground, and while they will only be ten rows high, they will be much wider than the current ones.

He said the seating would be reduced from 600 to around 500. Sullivan and board members had expressed concern over safety issues with the current bleachers that are 60 years old. The new bleachers will include a space for band as well as 108 seats on the visitor's sideline.

The board also approved the hiring of two new teachers for the 2017-18 school year. Current Harrison School Teacher Kelly Leo was hired to replace longtime science teacher Todd Breitenfeldt. Allison Behrens was hired as a new 6-12 English teacher. She will take over for Rita Brown whose resignation was approved at the meeting.

The board also approved the resignations of concessions manager Kathy Coughlin, custodian Linda Kravik, and assistant high school football coach Kelly Nieskens.