Page 30 - Flathead Beacon // 6.17.15

LIKE I WAS SAYING 32 AMERICAN RURAL 32 DRAWING BOARD 33 Viewpoints
LETTERS
A Fond Farewell; A Warm Welcome
As Dr. Kate Orozco leaves School Dis- trict 44 in Whitefish, we celebrate the legacy of initiatives she has fostered, designed to build a collaborative cul- ture, centered on effective and innova- tive teaching and learning that improves student outcomes.
Under Dr. Orozco’s leadership as superintendent, school administra- tors have formed a visionary “AdCo” team focused on defining and achiev- ing shared goals. Teachers, administra- tors and board members have attended monthly “Instructional Task Force” meetings where they can discuss innova- tive teaching as well as problems of prac- tice. Board work sessions have become engaging learning opportunities, open to the community, and designed to shed light on the term “21st century teaching and learning.”
Over the last four years, many teach- ers and administrators traveled to Den- ver with Public Education and Business Coalition to observe cutting edge educa- tional approaches. At home, our district personnel had the advantage of working with educational coach, Dr. Katy Kar- schney, to develop collaborative part- nerships and workshop techniques in classrooms. In the interests of develop- ing scholarly conversations surround- ing effective teaching and learning, Dr. Orozco has introduced Instructional Rounds, fashioned after medical train- ing rounds, except designed to spotlight the best in classroom technique.
During Dr. Orozco’s tenure, our inter- view process has become even more rig- orous, now requiring the teacher candi- date to demonstrate his/her personal- ized approach to engaging students by actually teaching a lesson to Whitefish students during the interview itself.
Through Dr. Orozco’s guidance, the district has undertaken a long list of for- ward-thinking projects. The Muldown ALPS Program (enrichment) includes a focus on early exposure to foreign language immersion. And at Whitefish Middle School, the new Coding Club has generated great excitement among the students. Of course, there was the suc- cessful completion of the High School Building Project and implementation of a modified block schedule. Longer learning periods have encouraged fur- ther development of the “new 3 R’s” – Rigor, Relevance, and Relationship. Many new cross-curricular and commu- nity partnerships have arisen, including the Acoustics project at the Center, and the new Greenhouse project.
Reflecting on our journey over the past four years, we clearly owe a debt of
gratitude to the visionary leadership of Dr. Kate Orozco. She has instilled a stu- dent-centered mindset, focused on a constantly improving educational cul- ture in Whitefish. Thanks, Dr. Orozco, for “walking the talk.”
And as we look to the future, the dis- trict is pleased to welcome Dr. Heather Davis Schmidt as the new superinten- dent. She is eager to continue nurturing what she terms a “remarkable school system,” intending first to listen, with the dual intention of retaining what is working well and identifying what might be better done differently.
Dr. Davis Schmidt looks forward to encouraging the district’s focus on col- laboration. She notes that often teach- ers and administrators feel isolated by their particular assignment, and effec- tive communication offers vital support in both daily work and in ongoing pro- fessional development.
As the district builds and strengthens programs, Dr. Davis Schmidt intends to root these efforts in comprehensive and transparent communications. She con- siders building trust as critical to dis- trict success. And she views her role, in part, as a conduit to streamline com- munications for all participants in the school community. She says, “You will find me very accessible and straight for- ward, with a focus on building and work- ing from trust.” Looking ahead to the upcoming school year, we School Board members anticipate ongoing growth and benefit for our students and community!
Shawn Watts, Whitefish School Board Chair Ruth Harrison, Whitefish School BoardVice Chair
EPA’s New Rules Another Act of Government Overreach
Recently, the Environmental Protec- tion Agency pushed forward new rules through the Clean Water Act, declaring its jurisdiction over many water bodies that were previously under the supervi- sion and control of state and local gov- ernments. This move is yet another act of federal government overreach and an attempt to take control away from the states that will result in rising costs for small businesses and economic downturn.
These regulations were adopted over the strenuous opposition of nearly every legitimate agriculture organization, business association and local govern- ment coalition. We applaud Sen. Steve Daines and Congressman Ryan Zinke for their outspoken attempts to stop the rule.
Over the past few decades, Mon- tana has made tremendous strides in
protecting and improving our state’s water quality. Though the path hasn’t always been an easy one, Montana’s homegrown approach has produced excellent results that benefit our envi- ronment without harming small business.
Today, with Montana’s population exceeding 1 million our access to fresh, clean water has never been better.
The EPA’s new regulations do little to improve Montana’s water quality while greatly expanding the federal govern- ment’s power to regulate, fine and inter- fere with small businesses across our state.
The rule’s overly broad language places millions of additional acres of private land under federal jurisdiction. The rule is so extreme that the federal government will actually regulate cer- tain roadside ditches, isolated ponds and channels that may only flow after a heavy rainfall.
This means, that the EPA now has the opportunity to regulate virtually every farm, ranch and construction site in Montana. It also means county infra- structures budgets will be stretched even further.
Such intrusive federal encroachment is bad governance and will inevitably lead to bureaucratic delays, increased costs and mitigation fees, and ulti- mately, decreased economic activity.
The new rules go well beyond what Congress intended the Clean Water Act to protect, and is now encroaching on Montanans’ private property rights.
We are thankful to Daines and Zinke for standing up for Montanans, and we are publicly standing with them against this big-government encroachment on our state rights.
Dustin Stewart, Montana Building Industry Association Nicole Rolf, Montana Farm Bureau Federation Webb Brown, Montana Chamber of Commerce Harold Blattie, Montana Association of Counties Ronda Wiggers, Montana Water Well Drillers Association Tammy Johnson, Montana Mining Association Dave Galt, Montana Petroleum Association Krista Lee Evans, Montana Agricultural Business Association Bud Clinch, Montana Coal Council Cary Hegreberg, Montana Contractors’ Association Amy Jo Fisher, Montana Association of REALTORS Jay Bodner, Montana Stockgrowers Association
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JUNE 17, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
LETTERS
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