Petition For The Recall Of School Board Trustee
Author: Courtney Johnson, Jennifer Beatty, Rehanna Olson
Petition for the Recall of School Board Trustee
As residents of Townsend who care deeply about the health and integrity of our schools and our community, we feel called to speak — not out of anger or blame, but from a desire to promote transparency, accountability, and respectful civic engagement.
Small towns like ours have so much to offer: a sense of belonging, strong values, and close-knit support. These were among the reasons our families chose to make Townsend our home. But small towns also face unique challenges, especially when emotions run high or opinions differ. In these moments, we have an opportunity to demonstrate the very values we want to pass on to our children: responsibility, courage, and constructive action.
Recently, there has been significant community concern regarding decisions made about the Head Girls’ Basketball Coach position. We’ve shared our view that the coach should have been retained. But even more important than any one decision is how those decisions are made, the impact those decisions have on our student athletes and whether elected officials are acting with fidelity to their duties.
After careful research and reflection, we filed a petition for the recall of School Board Trustee Chase Ragen, a legal action allowed under Montana state law. A recall petition is not an act of personal hostility — it’s a democratic mechanism that allows registered voters to decide whether a public official should remain in office based on specific alleged violations of public trust.
This is not a personal attack—it is a request for accountability. The process ensures that the community can voice whether they believe an elected official is upholding the responsibilities of their position. That is what a recall election allows: a community vote, not a presumption of guilt.
We encourage community members to review school board meeting recordings from the last several months. These can be accessed in two locations. The first is the school’s website, proceed to https://www.townsend.k12.mt.us/page/school-board and select School Board Recorded Meetings (4/09/24 - Present). The second is the school’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp3fC8WYmd8lWMu7XGLnPZg.
We’ve been disappointed not by disagreement — but by fear. Many community members have shared they’re afraid to sign because of potential retaliation or because they want to "stay neutral." But silence in the face of concern is not neutrality — it’s passivity. And our children are watching. When we model fear instead of thoughtful action, they learn to disengage from the responsibilities of community life.
We are teaching lessons every day, whether we mean to or not. Let’s show our children how to participate thoughtfully and respectfully in democracy, even when it’s hard.
By filing this petition, we’ve simply offered a choice to registered voters in Townsend School District #1. Whether you choose to sign or not, we simply ask that we all consider what kind of example we’re setting, what kind of community we want to be, and how our actions impact our children.
For those interested in signing, the petition will be available at the following locations:
The intersection of highways 285 and 287 in Toston; the intersection of highway 287 and Beaver Creek Road in Winston; and Heritage Park – Saturday, July 5 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM
Heritage Park during the Slice of Summer, Wednesday, July 16 in the afternoon
Infinite Hope Counseling waiting room, 108 N Front St, Suite C – Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Sincerely,
Courtney Johnson, Jennifer Beatty, Rehanna Olson
