MANHATTAN, Mont. — The Manhattan Public School Board held a special meeting to name an interim principal for Manhattan Middle School after former principal Mary Fulp resigned last week effective immediately.
The meeting began and ended quickly. Board chair Rob Brownell reviewed the rules and informed the crowded audience that public comment was limited to non-agenda items and could not address personnel matters.
“I will say to the people that came here to say something about these things, there's an avenue that you can make comments, but it's going to be directed to Mr. Ayres. If you want to schedule a time with him and have any explanation of any of the things that that's the administration's role in this,” Brownell said.
Board members voted to appoint Jeff Blessum as interim principal for the rest of the school year. Superintendent Brian Ayers said Blessum had served in several administrative roles in the district.
Ayers also said Blessum had previously stepped into an interim principal job at the elementary school in recent years. That means the current sixth and seventh-grade students will already know him.
The leadership change followed a school field trip to Bridger Bowl. During that trip, Fulp behaved erratically and shouted about religion.
Part of the incident was recorded on her Facebook Live and later spread on social media, raising concern among parents. Fulp later spoke with NonStop Local in an interview about what happened.
“I said things that you can't say as a leader in public education. And so, I tried to do my best, and I did do my best until what happened. And I love the community, the leaders.” Fulp said in an interview.
The Tuesday night meeting lasted a little less than ten minutes, and there was minimal discussion.
Ayers said the search for a permanent principal for the next school year is already underway.