Ophus appointed to Havre Public School Board

The Havre Public School Board of Trustees in a meeting Thursday appointed Garrit Ophus to take the recently vacated position of former Trustee Scott Adams. Michele Holden also applied to the position.

Adams was appointed in December of last year to the position previously held by Brian Williams, who resigned from the board due to his move away from Havre.

Adams resigned after less than three months on the board, prompting the remaining board members to, on the advice of Havre Public Schools’ legal advisor, immediately begin the search for a replacement at the beginning of this month.

Board Chair Aileen Couch said it was recommended that they get the position filled with enough time so that the appointee can file for the position in the upcoming election, which appears to have been accomplished.

The board determined that closing applications March 9, at noon would provide sufficient time for them to review applications and possibly set up interviews for the following days if a greater than average number of people applies, though that ended up being unnecessary.

Due to the proximity to the deadline for filing for the election, the board had to temporarily suspend their normal procedures for finding and appointing trustees. The suspension only applied to this case and was voted for unanimously at their meeting earlier this month.

The board also decided at the meeting that applications for the superintendent position will remain open for another week and closes March 18 at 4 p.m.

Craig Mueller has been interim superintendent since Andy Carlson resigned from the position effective the end of last June. He told the board he is not interested in taking the position permanently.

The next meeting of the School Board will be at Havre Middle School, March 23 at 6 p.m. The board at that time will look at the superintendent applications.