MCPS gives 13 percent raise to Superintendent Apostle - Missoulian article from the January 16, 2013 edition

The link to the January 16th, 2013 article reporting on MCPS Superintendent's raise is below.

MCPS gives 13 percent raise to Superintendent Apostle

There were 92 comments (!) in the comment section after the article. One can find a lot of interesting information in many of the comments. Actually, Prescott School Missoula is in agreement with most of them as psm is against out-of-line salaries and raises for administrative positions. Remember: psm had a child profoundly effected by the 2004 school closures - the closing of three northeast schools at one time, including Prescott, Rattlesnake Middle School in the Rattlesnake Valley, and Mt. Jumbo in East Missoula.
The reasoning given for the closures was due to financial considerations, i.e. the administration stating there was not enough money to keep the schools open. Ever since this heartbreaking expereince, when there is wasteful spending a feeling of betrayal surfaces for psm - rightfully so, in my opinion.

One of the interesting comments that especially pertains to Prescott School is the following:

"1.   Sherman - January 15, 2013 8:27 pm

  So they had letters from the CEO of Alps. I believe that school board member Mike Smiths wife works for Alps.

also a letter from lambros, I believe lambros, Reibein and Apostle goe to the same church. I wonder how hard it was to get those letters."

"Sherman" states that Michael Smith's wife works for ALPS.  Another person also has worked for ALPS is DAVID REHBEIN - Toni Rehbein's husband. 
Would not the fact that Michael Smith's wife and Toni Rehbein's husband work at the same company be an important fact to know since MCPS Board Chair Toini Rehbein has acvocated for the Prescott/MIS lease several times and Michael Smith has voted for the Prescott/MIS lease extension.

As stated in many of the posts on this blog Missoula County Public Schools Board Chair served on the Board of Missoula International School shortly before being elected to the MCPS Board in 2004.

Was the reason Michael Smith ran for the school board to help secure the lease of Prescott School for Missoula International School?  It seems entirely possible, especially now that we know his connections to the Rehbeins.