School Board elections Tuesday

The Libby School District #4 will be holding elections on Tuesday, May 6 for two three-year term trustee vacancies.

Candidates for the positions are Paula Darko-Hensler, Maria (Ray) Eanes, Tony Rebo and Anne Weber.

Voting polls will be open from 8 a.m to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at Asa Wood Elementary School at 700 Idaho Ave. in Libby.

Darko-Hensler was appointed to the board in October and has been sitting on the board since. She is a retired consumer and family sciences teacher. Originally from Great Falls, Darko-Hensler taught at Libby High School for 30 years before her retirement.

She also has experience in government. Darko-Hensler served in the legislature for 10 years.

“I have lots of experience with that and thought I would be a good fit,” Darko-Hensler said of running for the school board position.

She’s also been a part of the League of Women Voters and has much experience in different realms of public service. As a school board member, Darko-Hensler enjoys learning about the other side of schools and administration.

“I think I have a different kind of insight than others,” she added. “I think there are some things that have happened that shouldn’t have.”

Darko-Hensler said she believes rules and procedures are there to be followed.

“It has bothered me that things have happened behind closed doors,” she continued. “We need to do things in the open, especially with taxpayers money.”

Darko-Hensler has always been involved in public service, she said.

“I think that spending time on the board is a good investment four the children,” Darko-Hensler added. “I serve for the good of the people. I have no ax to grind I just want to keep people informed.”

While in the legislature, Darko-Hensler helped pass the bill that established the Lincoln County campus of the Flathead Valley Community College. She also helped legislate for the parks district and search and rescue, she said.

Darko-Hensler has been married to Bob Hensler for 15 years and she has five step-children. She also has a sister who lives in the area.

“I think we’re at a turning point where we need to make decisions about funding,” Darko-Hensler said. “We can’t continue to cut, cut, cut. We have to provide adequately for future generations. I do listen to the people and I’m really approachable. As a board member, I am a representative of the people, I listen to the concerns and voices of the people.”

Ray Eanes has been a substitute teacher for 14 years.

“I’m interested in the education of the kids in Libby,” Eanes said. “I noticed the position was open and I thought, ‘why not.’”

Eanes was born in Scotland and began teaching dance at the age of 15. She was a member of the Royal Academy in London, where she received all her training. Eanes has been in the United States for 43 years and become a U.S. citizen three years ago.

Eanes’ husband, Paul, is retired from the U.S. Navy. In addition to dance, Eanes also taught sign language at an elementary school in West Point, N.Y. Following Paul’s retirement, the Eanes’ moved to Libby, where they decided “Libby would be a nice place to be.” That was 14 years ago.

Eanes said there is a “need for a little bit of international culture.”

“I think I can help with things going on in the school district,” she continued. “The teachers here are marvelous, their integrity is super and they are dedicated and fantastic. There needs to be more communication with teachers in the district and the school board.”

Eanes has two daughters, Alexandra Eanes is the executive director of Families in Partnership in Libby, and daughter Allison lives in Camano Island, Wash. The Eanes’ also have three grandchildren; grandson Cole goes to school in Libby.

“The people on the school board do a great job,” Eanes said. “I’m glad they are there and they usually don’t get accolades, they usually get complaints.”

Tony Rebo is running for one of the school board vacancies. He ran for a school board position over 10 years ago when his two oldest children were still in school.

“I got to a point in my life when I had time and I already do a lot of volunteer work at the school,” he said.

Rebo is currently the facility manager at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital, a position he has held for six years. Prior to that, Rebo worked for the St. Regis and Stimson mills. Rebo also currently sits on the SJLH Foundation Board.

He has four children, two of which are still in school. He has a son who graduated in 2003 from Libby High School and a daughter who graduated in 2006 from LHS.

“I do a lot of volunteer work and there are lots of new and exciting things on the horizon,” Rebo explained. “I want to offer any support and help where I can.”

Rebo is a Libby native and is an “impartial individual.”

“I have no big agenda and I’m not mad at anybody,” he added. “I want to step up and offer my services. I was approached by faculty members and asked if I would run. I have plenty of time where I could help out.”

Anne Weber joined the candidacy because she wanted to “help out,” she said. This is her first venture into running for the school board.

“I thought it would be good to have some parents on the board,” she explained.

Weber and her husband, Jayson, have two children. One child is enrolled at Libby Middle School and the other is at Asa Wood Elementary School.

Weber works full-time for the U.S. Forest Service and Jayson works for the city of Libby. She’s lived in the community for 20 years.

“I want to stay focused on what’s best for the kids, because sometimes that doesn’t happen,” she said. “I think I can help out because I have kids in the school.”