Havre Superintendent Mueller dies Saturday evening

Havre Public School Superintendent Craig Mueller died unexpectedly at the age of 50 Saturday, causing some schools around the area and the Havre Boys & Girls Club to close for the day today.

"We are grateful for Mr. Mueller's leadership and passion for the education of students at Havre Public Schools for the past decade," a release from HPS Sunday afternoon said. "We ask that you keep his family, and everyone who loved him in your thoughts and prayers, while also respecting their privacy during this incredibly difficult time."

The Hill County Sheriff's office did not have the full coroner's report this morning, and Undersheriff Stan Martin said at this point the only thing they know about the cause of death is that it was due to a medical issue.

Schools in the district are closed today, the release says, and support personnel, including counselors and grief assistance, are available at each building for students and staff who may need assistance in the wake of Mueller's death.

A release from the Hill County Superintendent of Schools Vicki Proctor, Davey School District Chair Lisa Hanson, Cottonwood Schools Chair Janas Strauser and District Clerk Serena Dawson said Davey and Cottonwood schools would also be closed today in memory of and respect for Mueller.

A post on the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line Facebook page also announced they would be closed today because it did not have enough staff members available to open, and asked people to pray for Mueller's family.

"It's tragic," Havre Public Schools Board of Trustees Chair Curtis Smeby said this morning. "Craig was a wonderful person to work with, as a person, as a colleague, and as a dear friend."

Smeby said it's hard to even imagine continuing work in a district and community now absent Mueller's grace and positivity, which he showed even during the hardest of times, whether that was as a principal, assistant superintendent or superintendent.

He said he worked with Mueller for all 10 years of their time at the district and said his friend was completely devoted to doing what was best for students and staff.

In August, Smeby said, Mueller received his 10-year pin for his decade of work at the district and was on the verge of being awarded a doctorate from Montana State University in Bozeman, and his death is a loss to the community, state and his family most of all.

"We just don't make 'em like him, at least not enough of them, that's for sure," he said.

Mueller originally came to Havre to take the position of Havre High School principal in July 2011. He took the position of Havre Public Schools' assistant superintendent in June of 2015 and took the position of interim superintendent after Andy Carlson stepped down from the superintendent position in July of 2020.

Mueller initially declined the position of permanent superintendent, but reconsidered after being asked to by a number of people.

He was named superintendent in March of 2021.

The release from HPS says the Board of Trustees and administrative team will make sure that district operations continue and they will make further announcements when additional information becomes available.