MCPS Superintendent Reassigns Sentinel Administrators

Missoula County Public Schools Superintendent Alex Apostle has shuffled administrative staff at local high schools to cover the misbehavior of the principal and vice principal at Sentinel High School.

In a letter to district staff and high school parents, Dr. Alex Apostle wrote..

Sentinel Parents,
Due to a violation of board policy 5224, Tom Blakely will no longer serve as the Principal of Sentinel High School. As the Superintendent of Missoula County Public Schools, I will make adjustments to the leadership structure at Sentinel High School in accordance with board policy 6130.
Ted Fuller has been named the Interim Principal for Sentinel High School for the 2014-2015 school year. He will leave his post as the current Assistant Principal at Hellgate to provide leadership at Sentinel High School. Brian Fortman will continue to serve as an Assistant Principal at Sentinel. Margo Duneman will serve as the Interim Assistant Principal at Sentinel for the 2014-2015 school year. Duneman, an English teacher at Sentinel for the past 15 years, has provided leadership support throughout her career at the school.
As a result of these changes, Libby Oliver will be reassigned as the Assistant Principal at Hellgate High School. Tom Blakely’s reassignment has yet to be determined.
We appreciate your patience during this difficult time. As a District, we have tried to balance the public’s right to know with the individual rights of privacy, as well as follow state and federal law.
Although it is the beginning of the school year, MCPS believes that these changes are in the best interests of the District and its students.
Alex Apostle
Superintendent
Missoula County Public Schools

Blakely and Oliver were suspended after an incident at Sentinel High School on August 11 that violated school policy, although details of the incident have not been made public. Dr. Apostle maintains the incident is a personnel issue, and asks that the privacy of those involved not be violated.

Apostle said Blakely is using his sick leave at this time, and continues to be paid by the school district.