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Missoula trustees adopt policy updates, renew Head Start lease, approve personnel changes and set trustee vacancy timeline

5948795 · October 15, 2025

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Summary

At its Oct. 14 meeting, the Missoula County Public Schools Board of Trustees adopted multiple policy updates on second reading, approved a one-year Head Start lease renewal, accepted personnel reports that included a staff resignation, and established a timeline to fill a recently vacated trustee seat.

The Missoula County Public Schools Board of Trustees on Oct. 14 adopted a package of policy updates on second reading, approved a one-year lease renewal with ChildStart/Head Start, accepted personnel reports that included one staff resignation, and voted to declare and begin the process to fill a recently vacated trustee seat.

The policy updates presented for second reading were described by district staff as incorporating feedback from the board and technical edits following the first reading; the district posted the proposed changes on its website and reported it received no public responses. Brook Commander, identified in meeting materials as the district director of nursing services, reviewed and recommended language changes related to medication administration and AEDs that were incorporated into the final documents. The board voted to adopt the policies; the motion was moved and seconded and carried unanimously by those trustees present.

District clerk Denise Williams presented the lease renewal for ChildStart/Head Start, describing it as "simply a renewal of the lease for Head Start to continue to lease 1 year" and saying that "nothing really has changed in the provisions." Trustees asked whether the renewal term was normally longer; staff said ChildStart prefers a year-to-year agreement because of the program's potential instability. The board approved the one-year renewal by unanimous voice vote.

The board approved elementary and high school consent and personnel reports in separate motions. As part of the personnel items, a staff member identified in the meeting as Mr. Lebowski announced a resignation effective June 30, 2026, saying he has accepted a position as head of school for the International School of Beijing starting July 1, 2026. The board approved the personnel reports in voice votes with no public comment.

Trustees also moved to declare the K-12 trustee seat vacant following a letter of resignation from Trustee Justin Mercer. The board approved a timeline included in the meeting packet: Oct. 14 — seat declared vacant; Oct. 15 — district posts notice and opens applications; Nov. 5 — application deadline; Nov. 11 — interviews and appointment; the appointed successor will serve until the next regular election on May 5, 2026. A trustee who spoke in praise of Mercer said he had been "a phenomenal person to learn from" and that "he's gonna be really deeply missed." The board approved the vacancy process unanimously.

Votes at a glance

- Agenda approval: motion moved and seconded; approved (unanimous, all trustees present). - Approval of Sept. 23 minutes: motion moved and seconded; approved (unanimous). - Elementary consent agenda: motion moved and seconded; approved (unanimous). - High school consent agenda: motion moved and seconded; approved (unanimous). - Policy updates (second reading) adopted: motion moved by Trustee Walsh, second by Vice Chair Perez; approved (unanimous). - Lease renewal with ChildStart/Head Start (one-year term): motion moved and seconded; approved (unanimous). District clerk Denise Williams described the renewal as unchanged in substance. - Elementary personnel report: motion moved and seconded; approved (unanimous). Included acceptance of resignations and hires; Mr. Lebowski’s resignation effective 06/30/2026 was announced during the personnel item. - High school personnel report: motion moved and seconded; approved (unanimous). - Declare trustee seat vacant and set appointment timeline (to fill Justin Mercer’s seat): motion moved by Trustee Hayes, second by Vice Chair Garris; approved (unanimous). Timeline: Oct. 14 declare vacant; Oct. 15 post notice; Nov. 5 application deadline; Nov. 11 interviews/appointment; successor serves until 05/05/2026.

The meeting had no public comments on the major action items and ended at about 6:21 p.m. The board announced a board retreat on Nov. 17 for strategic plan review and noted the district will host an external Board of Public Education event on Nov. 20.

Ending: The board did not receive public opposition or formal protest during the meeting on these items; several routine and consent motions were approved without discussion, and the board set a clear timetable to fill the vacated trustee seat.