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The warm winter of 1997-98 brought a surplus of money to District 5, money that would usually go to put heat into the school system.
But not this year.
In 1998, the heating funds were used to take heat off the district, when a portion of the money was used for a partial buyout of the remaining two years on the contract of first-year superintendent Alan Hafer.
Hafer’s 10 months in Kalispell divided the district. Criticized for his leadership style — which stood in stark contrast to longtime superintendent Bill Cooper’s — Hafer’s time in District 5 was anything but boring. But what really happened this past year? When did the cracks in the district begin to form? When were the lines drawn? And more importantly, why were they drawn?
“We are used to discussion and working as a team,” said Hedges Elementary principal Gayle Vidal. “(Hafer) was concerned with carrying out the board’s decisions, as we all are, but he was used to making more central decisions. He was more of a talker than a listener.”
The Arrow spoke to teachers, school board members and District 5 administrators to try to shed some light on why so much went wrong in 1997-98.
•A foundation is set
Hafer first interviewed for the superintendent position in January, 1997. The district interviewed two other candidates, but Hafer had the best interview, according to board members.
“Based on what I heard, he hit a homerun in the interview,” said trustee John Gardner, who was part of the hiring process but missed the interview. “The consensus on the board was that we were looking for a progressive leader. He showed that when he was answering the questions.”
The view of Hafer as a progressive leader wasn’t the only consensus on the board. Nearly everyone on the board was impressed with Hafer’s knowledge when it came to educational theory.
“He was well-read and very articulate,” said Gardner. “He could talk educational theory and had all the right answers.”
“He seemed to know the education environment,” said trustee Jack Fallon. “I thought he was a well-read person.”
Hafer began work on June 1. But the next 10 months would be, in the words of school board trustee Margie Simpson, “rocky.”
•The cracks begin to form
Hafer followed in the footsteps of the laid-back Bill Cooper. According to Simpson, Hafer was hired based on a need to improve curriculum.
“On a recommendation of Cooper, we were looking for someone stronger in curriculum,” said Simpson. “(Hafer) was very articulate, knowledgeable and intelligent. Of the candidates, his interview was by far the best.”
School board chair Carol McGuire, believes that Hafer’s hiring was also based on his experience in “vocational education and remodeling,” which would be important for the tech center project.
“(Hafer) had experience in a district that had been on the cutting edge,” said McGuire. “…The board asked him to support (the tech center). He was behind it and we told him we were very interested.”
Other people in the district believe that Hafer was given the job over the other two candidates — both of whom were familiar with Montana education — solely because of a proven track record for gaining approval for new buildings and passing bonds, experience which would help pass the ATLC.
“(The school board) had one thing in mind during the hiring process,” said FHS math department head Larry Kaber. “That was the building program for the ATLC. I think they found a guy who convinced them that they could get it sold and done. That was (Hafer’s) mission until the time it was defeated.”
Hafer became an expert on the ATLC — soon to become known as the Glacier Applied Learning Center — during his first two months in the district. The levy would have created a vocational learning center for students from Bigfork, Whitefish and Kalispell. Kalispell voters were asked twice to pass a $5.6 million levy to create the GALC near FVCC. The GALC was defeated a second time by Kalispell voters in late October.
“It was a mistake putting that on his plate so early,” said school board trustee Eve Dixon. “People support change if it’s positive. In this, we rushed it.”
But Hafer still believed the project would have helped District 5.
“The tech center is an issue that should stand on its own merit,” said Hafer in September. “The center represents a chance for all students to learn.”
School board trustee Don Murray — elected this spring — doesn’t believe Hafer’s involvement in GALC hurt the superintendent.
“I don’t think it had an effect,” said Murray.
Hafer angered the district with some public statements. During a curriculum meeting near the beginning of the year, Hafer upset a group of teachers when he stated his educational philosophy.
“He said things that rankled some teachers,” said Kaber. “He said his famous quote ‘If it’s not broken, break it.’”
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•The lines are drawn
As the year went by, employees in District 5 became concerned. But McGuire didn’t see any direct negative reaction to Hafer.
“In my sense we were doing fine,” said McGuire. “Some people had concerns, but they weren’t going through the proper channels.”
Daily Interlake reporter Cherry Sabol spoke to Edgerton principal Ken Siderius. Siderius — a beloved figure in Kalispell — confirmed various reports that Sabol had gathered from sources throughout the district, and an article was published in March in the Interlake in which Siderius spoke against Hafer.
“I feel that what I did was the right thing to do,” said Siderius. “I’ve always been of the nature that if I’m going to say something, I ought to be quoted.”
The article made waves. Hafer recommended that the board not renew Siderius’ contract. Hafer told the public that his decision was based on an agreement made between Siderius and District 5 stating that Siderius was an interim principal. Hafer later called for an investigation of Siderius and a community meeting was held at KJHS on March 23 for the board to decide Siderius’s future. Nearly 300 people attended, most supporting Siderius.
“(Hafer) will say (the decision) was board-mandated,” said Dixon. “He and Siderius should’ve tried to work it out. But Hafer demanded the investigation.”
Siderius is an influential man. Board trustee Tom Briney had been personally persuaded by Siderius to run for the school board.
“I thought (Hafer and Siderius) should go in a room and figure out how to resolve their differences and not come out until it was (decided),” said Briney.
Supporters of Hafer, however, were angered by how Siderius went public.
“A popular principal disliked Hafer,” said former school board trustee Steve Berg. “The public supported Siderius. They liked him (and) Siderius utilized a surprise attack through a shoddy newspaper to attack Hafer.
“Hafer ended up being a victim of attacks on his personality. The attacks were publically asserted, denying the school board from discerning them in a rational manner.”
Eventually, Dixon called for an investigation of Hafer.
“I was not on a personal mission against this man,” said Dixon. “I pursued it because there was dissension out there. If (people) are saying something over and over, there’s something wrong.”
•The breakup
On May, 7 the school board bought out the remainder of Hafer’s three-year contract, with a 10-1 vote, giving $60,000 to Hafer, ro avoid legal matters and provide an aggreable settlement. The only school board member to vote against the settlement was Murray, who wasn’t satisfied with the finances.
“I thought the board did the right thing. But I expressed it at the meeting — the amount was too high,” said Murray, who practices law in Kalispell. “As a lawyer, I believe that (Hafer) would have taken a lot less.”
But the settlement was not appreciated by all.
“I was (ticked),” said math teacher Karen Longhart. “…I used to be proud to teach here. After this year, I’m not.”
Some in the district believe Hafer should have resorted to the legal system.
“Dr. Hafer never had a fair day in court,” said Fallon.
Others had problems with Hafer’s performance during the year.
“If he made a mistake, he deflected the blame,” said acting superintendent Pat Lee. “He never accepted responsibility for his actions.”
“It wasn’t a fit that seemed to work,” said English department head Sue Brown. “The biggest problem … was communication style. It was hard to tell where you were headed in the conversation or even where you’d been.”
The school board has held meetings in the past week interviewing possible superintendents. Whoever is granted the position — either Joe McCracken from Billings or Dennis Williams from Conrad — will only be hired for a year until a permanent superintendent is found. And despite a rocky 1998, school board members are optimistic about the future.
“This district is not a sinking ship that Hafer took over,” said Gardner. “We have good kids. We have a good staff. This is a good district to work in.”
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