Flathead County superintendent to retire; office flags possible workload increase if state requires homeschool curriculum documentation

The superintendent of schools for Flathead County told the Board of County Commissioners on May 1 that she will retire in June and that the department’s budget decline is driven primarily by personnel changes.

The superintendent said the office’s preliminary budget shows a decrease of about $39,650, largely because personal-services costs fall by about $41,925 when her salary and an associated FTE are replaced by a lower-cost half-time position. The superintendent said the schools accounting workload has been shrinking as rural schools take on their own payroll and accounting; she said training by the county office helped several schools transition away from county-provided payroll services.

During the presentation commissioners asked about legislation on the governor’s desk that would require more documentation from homeschoolers. The superintendent said Flathead Valley currently tracks roughly 1,200 homeschool registrations and that the bill — if enacted as described in the meeting — would add requirements to document curriculum that the county does not now perform. “They’ve never been required,” the superintendent said of curriculum submissions. She told commissioners that tracking attendance is already part of the office’s work, but curriculum approval would be a new responsibility and “would be an unfunded mandate for this office.”

The superintendent said Michael, a half-time administrative assistant in her office, handles homeschool registration and could absorb additional duties, but she emphasized the potential for added workload for the new hire who will replace her. Commissioners requested follow-up when the governor acts on the bill and suggested budgeting for additional hours if the law is signed.

No formal decision was made; the presentation was provided for budget review and to inform commissioners about staffing and potential legislative impacts.