Colstrip board approves multiple 2025–26 administrative appointments and renews MTSBA membership

The Colstrip Public Schools Board of Trustees approved six administrative appointments for the 2025–26 school year during its March work session and voted to renew membership in the Montana School Boards Association.

A staff member presented recommended hires for next year, including Alicia O'Toole as middle school principal, Robin Nancell as high school principal, Bart Bailey as elementary principal, Barry Kirchner as supervisor of curriculum and instruction, Jennifer Arneson as special education director, and Robert Whitehead as maintenance director. Committee member (Speaker 4) moved approval of the recommendations; the motions were seconded and approved in roll-call voice votes in which trustees recorded “Aye.” The board recorded aye votes from trustees identified in the meeting as Wade, Tiff, Angie and Sabrina.

Separately, trustees discussed renewal of the district's membership in the Montana School Boards Association after noting the association’s programs and services. Board members reviewed an invoice (discussed in the meeting as about $7,500), described MTSBA trainings and legal services as valuable, and completed the association’s membership survey together.

The board also approved a request to reschedule the regular March meeting from March 10 to March 12, 2025.

What it means: The board’s approvals fill senior administrative roles before the coming school year and keep the district enrolled in statewide governance and legal-support services provided by MTSBA. The district did not provide detailed hiring contracts or salaries during the meeting.

Next steps: The appointed administrators will assume their 2025–26 roles as scheduled; the board will proceed with posted calendars and administrative processes tied to the new appointments.