GREAT FALLS — School officials say Luke Diekhans will now take on the role of the Business Manager for Great Falls Public Schools. He takes over for Brian Patrick, who recently retired.
“He knows the ropes. He knows the layout of a very difficult and challenging position. So he'll be a great fit for this job," said school board chair Gordon Johnson.
“I want to be able to move through this first year, gain that understanding, build relationships with not just other individuals across our district, but individuals across the state with organizations like Masco and the School Boards Association and so forth, so I develop a deeper understanding of the role of the business manager," said Diekhans.
“Now we're also looking at possible cuts coming from the federal government, so we're going to be doing a real balancing act over the next year of what that funding will look like and how we can best use it to suit our students and our staff," said Diekhans.
GFPS released the following information:
Great Falls Public Schools is pleased to announce the upcoming transition of Luke Diekhans, current Director of Human Resources, into the role of Director of Business Operations, effective at the conclusion of the extended contract of the current Director of Business Operations.
Since mid-April, the District has conducted a thorough and competitive search process to fill this key position, including two rounds of interviews and extensive deliberation. It was through the course of the interviews and deliberations that it became clear that Mr. Diekhans consistently demonstrated the qualities, insight, and alignment with the position we were seeking to fill. He models leadership qualities, an in-depth understanding of the District’s budget, and commitment to continuous learning which align to the demands of the position.
Mr. Diekhans is starting his 27th year with Great Falls Public Schools. He has served as a classroom teacher, Environmental Education Coordinator, Riverview Elementary Principal, and Director of Human Resources.
“We are excited to have Luke step into this new role,” said Superintendent Heather Hoyer. “His depth of understanding of education, his ability to build strong, cohesive teams and his knowledge of our financial systems make him highly qualified to guide the Business Office into the future.”
The District will immediately begin the search for a new Director of Human Resources to ensure a smooth and thoughtful leadership transition.
Great Falls Public Schools remains committed to maintaining a talented and student-focused leadership team dedicated to educational excellence, fiscal responsibility, and community partnership.
We would like to offer our sincere thanks to everyone who participated in this process. We welcome Luke to his new role as Director of Business Operations.
