MCPS could act on new Missoula superintendent next week
With a "meet and greet" with staff and the public over, attention will now turn back to the Missoula County Public School trustees, as the district continues efforts to find its next superintendent.
And although an agenda is still pending, it seems like the school board will discuss those steps at the next regular board meeting on March 14th.
The district has been attempting to find a permanent replacement for former Superintendent Rob Watson, who left at the end of the 2021-22 school year last summer to take a job with the statewide association of Montana school superintendents. Russ Lodge agreed to fill the post, but only for this school year.
Last month, trustees couldn't agree on three finalists which had been selected for the post, opting to re-advertise the position for an additional ten days in hopes of attracting a more qualified candidate.
One person applied, current Kalispell School Superintendent Micah Hill. Hill has been superintendent in Kalispell for the past three years, moving into the position after working as a principal at Glacier High School.
Hill met with staff and the public during a pair of discussions in Missoula Tuesday night, fielding questions about his educational philosophy and approach, as well as his interest and commitment to staying in the Missoula job.
Trustees are already scheduled to meet next Tuesday, which is expected to be when the board could discuss following up with Hill's hiring. Although a formal motion and vote would happen in an open session, frequently school boards will opt to have at least some discussion, especially pertaining to salary and terms of a contract, as a personnel matter in executive session.