School board candidates answer questions at forum

The Havre Education Association hosted a Havre Public School Board candidate forum Thursday in Hensler Auditorium on the Montana State University-Northern campus.

The forum was moderated by Chairman of the Havre Public Schools Education Foundation Kyle Leeds. There were nine questions from the HEA and public questions as well as follow-up questions were allowed. 

Family members and members of the press made up the in-person audience and members of the community attended through zoom. Havre High School teacher Lindsey Ratliff monitored the Zoom questions and comments for the forum.

Incumbent Lorraine Larson and Jessica Kennedy-Stiffarm, Jacob R. Ingram, Michele Holden and Erin Pulse are all running for two three-year term positions, with the top two vote-getters in the election winning the seats.

Kennedy-Stiffarm works as a registered nurse at the Hill County Health Department. 

"The reason I am running for the school board is, as a person of color and an Indigenous woman, I feel like I can bring a unique perspective to the school board. I am very passionate about education and I want to serve and support the district," Kennedy-Stiffarm said.

Pulse is a consumer department assistant for Independence Bank and also works for Havre restaurant Bow and Marrow. 

She is running because there needs to be more parents in these positions, she said. As a parent she feels she would bring more ideas to make sure the board doesn't lose track.

Larson is a retired educator and worked in Havre Public Schools for 40 years as a special education teacher, school psychologist, counselor and sixth grade elective teacher. She was appointed earlier this year to fill a vacant position on the board and is running to retain the seat.

Larson said she has been following the school board agenda since last spring and feels she can offer a lot with her experience. 

She said she wants to continue her time serving the district on the board. 

Holden is a mental health therapist and is self-employed. 

She said she is running because she feels the school board needs to have a variety of trustees on it to remain innovative with solutions. 

Ingram, who attended via Zoom, is a journeyman lineman for Hill County Electric. 

"My primary reasons for running for the school board are I felt last year that the community's desires for traditional school year was mostly overlooked. I attended several school board meetings; I wrote the trustees and I called trustees and I also started a petition and I felt most of that was for not. So, I thought the next step in trying to make a difference was to run for the school board. So, here I am," Ingram said.

Incumbent Garrit Ophus, who was appointed to the board earlier this year, and Brandon Berreth are both running for the one-year term position.

Berreth works as building automations technician for Facilities Improvement Corporation.

He has been following the school district and forums since he was a child and wants to continue to help support the school district, he said.

Ophus works at Northern Montana Healthcare in the information technology department. 

He said became interested in the school board when the COVID-19 pandemic began. He has one child that is in public school and another that will be soon and wants to bring a parent's voice to the board, he said. Ophus said he will bring an open mind to the board. 

Brittnee Loch was elected by acclamation to the High School Trustee position. There will not be an election for her position as she is the only one who ran for the open slot. 

Loch is part owner and secretary for Loch Electric here in Havre that serves the Hi-Line. 

Loch ran because she has children in Havre Public Schools and wants to be involved in the district to during their academic career, she said.

She wants to be involved for all children and feels it is very important to have a parent perspective on the board. 

The candidates were also asked what their connection to Havre Public Schools district and if they have children or grandchildren attending, their philosophy on the role of a school board member and what they like about Havre public schools.

If elected how will the candidate improve the district, the candidates' views of what was a success in the 2020-2021 school year and what changes they would have advocated for were also included in the questions.

The candidates answers and the entire forum can be watched at https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/VnlHjfrJe_JvFS1pYEqf8H-PEiH8tt1zjviFDDSCJo2BnfyBF27wlYsuZDit7sgU.bmu-Vsqxl9YRrBj9 with passcode zZE9E^89 .