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Arts community voices concern over Missoula County Public Schools proposed budget cuts
One of the proposed position cuts is the MCPS Arts Education Director who oversees and coordinates all arts programs including visual, drama, and music for the District. The proposed cut has a former arts education director — and the arts community raising the alarm on how this cut could negatively impact fine arts in Missoula public schools.
In his letter to parents, Superintendent Micah Hill writes nothing is taken lightly when it comes to reductions.
But he adds, “There isn’t a single position that isn’t important to our students and school community. Yet, the committee was tasked with the impossible - to bring forward recommendations for staffing reductions and other budget cuts.
KPAX: Arts community voices concern over Missoula County Public Schools proposed budget cuts
Students, other supporters demonstrate against possible MCPS budget cuts
Missoula County Public Schools is facing millions of dollars in budget shortfalls due to declining enrollment, expired relief funding, and inflationary costs.
This has caused school administration to propose dozens of job cuts, and that's causing community concern.
Students and other supporters lined up in front of the MCPS District offices ahead of Tuesday night’s Board of Trustees meeting to demonstrate against the proposed budget cuts that include possibly 100 job cuts across the district which includes the Arts Education Director who oversees and coordinates all arts programs including visual, drama, and music for MCPS.
KPAX: Students, other supporters demonstrate against possible MCPS budget cuts
Susie Hedalen files to run for Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction
Susie Hedalen has officially filed to run for Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction in the 2024 election.
A release from Hedalen's campaign said Hedalen is running on a conservative platform and has received endorsements from Governor Greg Gianforte, Attorney General Austin Knudsen, the Montana Rural Education Association and other state and local officials and education advocates.
Right now, Hedalen serves as the Townsend School District Superintendent and the Montana Board of Public Education Vice-Chair, and formerly the deputy superintendent at the Montana Office of Public Instruction.
Montana Right Now: Susie Hedalen files to run for Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction
New study finds an increase in weapons brought into Billings schools
The Montana Office of Public Instruction’s bi-annual Youth Risk Behavior Survey results are out and the numbers are alarming. Students are reporting an increase in violence and weapons in schools. In 2023, 10.5% of students reported being threatened with a weapon on school property, up from 6% two years prior.
The report comes at a time when School District 2 is preparing to bring a safety levy to Billings voters.
According to the survey, 11.2% of students say they've carried a weapon on school grounds in the last year.
KTVQ: New study finds an increase in weapons brought into Billings schools
Bozeman schools to begin new early literacy programs this summer
Bozeman Public Schools plans to offer new early childhood programming this summer to help kids learn to read at their grade level.
The district started offering its Running Start Kindergarten program in 2015, aimed towards students whose household income is below federal thresholds. Funding for the classes was partially supported by state law that helped schools to enroll students in early kindergarten programs.
House Bill 352, passed in the spring, eliminates the provision that allowed Running Start to serve students based on financial need. District officials said they are excited because the law also expands program funding to more students based on their literacy needs.
“I’ve been telling everyone I know that House Bill 352 is the most exciting thing done by the Montana Legislature in a long time,” Bertram said while presenting the new programs.
The new summer program will be offered to students entering grades K-3, Bertram said. The sessions will run Monday through Thursday for five hours each day, starting July 8, he said. The summer classes can take up to 160 total students between Emily Dickinson and Meadowlark Elementary Schools, he said. One goal of the summer program is to have one teacher for every eight students, Bertram said.
The district is also planning to offer additional reading support in classrooms during the school year for 4-year-olds. The capacity of the program will be 72 students, Bertram said, with the goal of having one teacher and a paraprofessional for every 18 students.
Bozeman Chronicle: Bozeman schools to begin new early literacy programs this summer
news.txt · Last modified: 2024/01/04 05:22 by lmuszkie