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Bozeman among first in Montana public charter schools after state approval
The Montana Board of Public Education approved 19 new charter schools last week — including two Bozeman programs — made possible by a new law.
Bozeman School District’s Bridger Charter Academy and Bozeman Charter School were among the first round of approvals. Both programs have already been operating as alternative options for students.
The new designation entitles the programs to additional state funding if they meet minimum enrollment requirements. According to HB 549’s requirements for base aid, elementary programs need at least 70 students enrolled, middle schools need at least 20 and high schools need at least 40.
If Bridger and Bozeman Charter both meet the minimum headcounts, the charter programs could be entitled to a combined $531,678 in state funding and local property taxes, district staff previously told the Chronicle.
Bozeman Chronicle: Bozeman among first in Montana public charter schools after state approval
Montana Board of Public Ed takes up new charter schools, including one with for-profit company
A controversial online charter school that would be run by a for-profit company will take another shot at approval from the Montana Board of Public Education after a superintendent withdrew its application Friday.
But the Park City Montana Connections Academy raised more concern than celebration from many members of the public and board members. It received five positive comments plus four letters of support including ones from outside Montana — and 32 negative public comments, according to a report to the board.
One day later, the board announced Park City Superintendent Dan Grabowska had withdrawn the application, but Board Chairperson Tim Tharp said the board looked forward to a resubmission in June.
The Park City school drew praise from Republican legislators. In a letter of support, state Sen. Forrest Mandeville and 14 other Republicans said the intent of a couple of education bills in 2023 was to foster “real innovation” in the classroom.
“To that end, we are supportive of the creation of a statewide online charter school as submitted by the Park City School District and partnered with a 20-year expert in online learning,” said the letter.
One, House Bill 562, the “School Choice” Act, is under a temporary injunction because a judge said it appears to unconstitutionally take powers away from the Board of Public Education, which oversees schools.
A separate bill, House Bill 549, also opens the door to greater flexibility for charter schools.
However, it does so within the public school system; it allows trustees to first choose to open a proposed school or to opt out. This is the legislation that prompted the 26 new proposals to the Board of Public Education.
Billings school board keeps "Assassination Classroom" in libraries; closes Washington
The Billings school board voted 5 to 4 to keep “Assassination Classroom” in high school libraries.
More than five hours into the meeting at the Lincoln Center Auditorium on Monday night, trustees Tanya Ludwig, Zack Tarakedis, Janna Hafer, Teresa Larsen, and Scott McCulloch voted no on the motion to remove the book.
The original request in October states concerns with phrases such as “I can't believe I get to kill a teacher with my own hands,” which a student states in regard to a teacher who is actually an alien, who asked the students to kill him to save the world.
Many disagreed that this book is a problem.
The board also decided to close Washington Elementary School, next school year.
A 6-1 vote among the elementary trustees, supported Superintendent Erwin Garcia's plan to close the school and turn it into a charter school, the Washington Innovative Center.
Garcia said the move would help with a $4 million deficit in the elementary district.
Now those 208 students will have to attend another school.
KTVQ: Billings school board keeps "Assassination Classroom" in libraries; closes Washington
GFPS receives two superintendent applications; moving forward with interviews
The Great Falls Public Schools district has received two applications for superintendent.
In November, the school board hired the Montana School Boards Association to conduct the search for a new superintendent.
District staff worked with MTSBA to create a superintendent advertisement. The board budget committee met Dec. 5 and reviewed current AA superintendent salaries and recommended the salary range be $175,000 to $185,000.
[Trustee Bill Bronson] said the district gave enough time for applications but was “obviously disappointed,” to only receive two applications.
In February 2021, [Superintendent Tom] Moore’s salary was $160,000 and the board approved a three year increase to $165,000 for the next school year, $170,000 the second year and $175,000 the third year.
The Electric first reported on Nov. 13 that Superintendent Tom Moore is retiring effective June 30, 2024.
Electric: GFPS receives two superintendent applications; moving forward with interviews
From the superintendent: School master plan a 'map' to help guide district
The FMP process is common practice for school districts and is usually contracted out to a firm with extensive experience in the facilities planning field.
The average age of our buildings in the district is 62 years.
The FMP will bring these factors together in one report and recommend multiple paths forward – from making needed upgrades to each of our current district facilities, to consolidating some schools and building new ones.
The Facilities Master Plan is more accurately described as an analysis followed by a set of recommendations. Think of the “plan” as a map – it will show us our current location on the facilities landscape and provide multiple routes to get to various destinations. The district will revisit and update this “map,” if you will, each year to keep it up-to-date as the facilities landscape changes over the next five, 10 and 20 years.
Facilities actions that trustees take as a result of the plan recommendations would need to be specific, publicly noticed board action items – a process that would span the course of multiple board meetings.
Helena IR: From the superintendent: School master plan a 'map' to help guide district
news.txt · Last modified: 2024/01/04 05:22 by lmuszkie