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Bigfork trustees adopt 2026–27 'Calendar B' in 5–2 vote; approve $77,000 bleacher replacement and deny two out‑of‑district requests
Summary
At the Feb. 11 board meeting, Bigfork School District No. 38 trustees adopted Calendar B for 2026–27 on a 5–2 vote, authorized replacement of north‑end gym bleachers (about $77,000), and unanimously denied two out‑of‑district attendance requests on the administration's recommendation.
At a Feb. 11 regular meeting in the Bigfork High School library, the Board of Trustees of Bigfork School District No. 38 voted 5–2 to adopt the district's recommended 2026–27 academic calendar, dubbed Calendar B.
Superintendent Tom Stack presented three calendar options that ranged from 178 to 180 student days and noted constraints around Labor Day, the Christmas break and the school year's final days in June. After discussion, Trustee Ben Woods moved to approve Calendar B and Trustee Mac Kirk seconded. Trustees Carol Field, Ben Woods, Paul Sandry, Dan Elwell and Mac Kirk voted yes. Trustees Deb Johnson and Julie Kreiman voted no.
The calendar decision was the meeting's most contested formal vote. The administration had recommended Calendar B; the record shows no formal statement of reason for the two no votes in the public minutes.
In related facilities business, Stack told trustees that the north‑end bleachers in the high school gym — which were refurbished when the high school bond passed — are sticking when deployed and need replacement. The board approved replacement work at an estimated cost of about $77,000 by unanimous vote after Trustee Kirk moved approval and Trustee Kreiman seconded.
The board also considered replacing the elementary lower playground but the administration requested more details and quotes; the board tabled that item for a future meeting.
On student residency matters, under Board Policy 3141 and with executive‑session authority noted (MCA 2‑3‑203(3)), the administration recommended denying two out‑of‑district attendance requests: one for a middle school student citing truancy and one for a high school student citing suspensions in a previous district. Chair Paul Sandry confirmed neither family was present for the discussion. Trustee Ben Woods moved to accept the administration's recommendation, Trustee Deb Johnson seconded, and the board approved the denials unanimously.
The board approved other routine items, including the agenda addendum and a consent agenda that carried multiple personnel items and activity reports. The meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m. The board plans a workshop Feb. 18 and regular meetings March 11, April 8, May 20 and June 10, all at 5 p.m. in the high school library.
