Alice Campbell Havre Daily News acampbell@havredailynews.com
The Havre Public Schools Board of Trustees has unanimously approved a contract with David Mahon as the new superintendent. The contact specifies that Mahon will receive $97,000 for the 2009-10 school year beginning July 1. For the following years of his contract through June 30, 2012, the salary will be re-evaluated but not reduced below the original amount. Mahon is presently superintendent of Huntley Project Schools in Worden a position he’s held for six years. Administrators at the Huntley Project schools say Mahon will be missed. “I’ll miss his support and the teamwork that the administrative team has. We have a very good administrative team,” said Huntley Project High School Principal Tynie Mader. “He’s not afraid to take on a conflict for what’s the best for the kids,” she also said. While Mader will retire at the end of this year, she supports Mahon’s decision to leave. “Come June, everyone has the right to go guilt-free.” Chair of the Huntley Project School Board Mark Jones appreciates the “open and frank” relationship that the board shares with Mahon. While he acknowledges that, “We’ve had points of disagreement,” he also said, “I think he’s improved our district.” “He takes very strong ownership of his opinions,” Jones said of Mahon’s strengths and weaknesses as superintendent. Mahon is looking forward to taking up his new post. When asked during an interview Tuesday if he would accept the position, he said, “Why wouldn’t I? You’ve got a great school system up there. I’m very excited about it.” He’s looking forward to the community and the staff that he called, “highly qualified, good people.” He’ll miss the same things about Huntley Project Schools. Even so, “I’m excited to join such a prestigious school district. I liked everything I saw,” he said. He will relocate at the end of the school year with his wife and three children who will join the ranks of students in Havre Public Schools. The current Havre superintendent Dennis Parman, will leave in June for his new post in Helena as the deputy superintendent to State Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau.
