What is a School Board?
A School Board is a local government entity that acts as the bridge between community and schools – Board trustees listen to parents, students and staff about their visions for public schools and act as advocates for their districts to the superintendent, district leaders and broader elected officials. School board members are elected by you to make important decisions!
What Decisions are Made by the School Board?
- Select school superintendents
- Influence textbook selection and the inclusion of topics into school curriculum such as comprehensive sex education, climate, and historically accurate Indian Education
- Determine funding for school services and programs including extracurricular activities and mental health resources.
- Make and/or influence decisions around school policies, rules and regulations, such as school dress codes, graduation requirements, anti-discrimination policies, disciplinary protocols, and other operational decisions that affect day-to-day functioning of schools
I Don’t Have School Aged Kids – Why Should I Vote in the School Board Election?
Trustees play an important role in the health and well-being of our community by making decisions around school food services, funding for mental health resources, establishing school safety protocols and influencing law enforcement presence on school campuses. Trustees also have a huge impact on our communities’ taxes by making important decisions regarding levying local property taxes, purchasing town land and buildings for school services, and school construction, expansion, or closures. These are all issues that affect our entire community!
Bozeman School Board Candidates Questions and Responses
Bozeman School District- Elementary SD #7
Will you commit to investing in mental health services for students (i.e. school counselors, prevention programs, and access to community resources)?
No response
Do you support universal free lunches for all students?
No Response
What do you see as the most significant challenge facing your school district right now? (70 word max)
Our district continues to creatively look at the cost of living in regards to gaining and retaining quality staff. We are also finding ways to better serve our ML/EL population.
How will you ensure that students’ voices, experiences, and values are elevated to the school board when making decisions? (70 word max)
The BSD7 district does an incredible job of including students on all consensus committees, ensuring we gain their unique experiences, amazing ideas, and thoughtful reflections. I am grateful to be part of a district that focuses on hearing (and learning from) the student voice!
Sarah Wilson
Will you commit to investing in mental health services for students (i.e. school counselors, prevention programs, and access to community resources)?
No Response
Do you support universal free lunches for all students?
No Response
What do you see as the most significant challenge facing your school district right now? (70 word max)
As Bozeman continues to change, so do our schools. I want to look for ways to assist and encourage educators, who are doing exceptional work, to meet the instructional needs of each student. Moreover, I believe the teacher shortage is a real concern. I believe we can continue to support our current educators and also think creatively of how to recruit people into the profession.
How will you ensure that students’ voices, experiences, and values are elevated to the school board when making decisions? (70 word max)
As a trustee, I think it is important to be a listener, who serves as a bridge between the community and the school. I actively ask questions of students and their families to find out how we can work together to support the students, teachers, and administrators in our district. The needs of the students are my top priority.
Belgrade School Board Candidates Questions and Responses
Belgrade School District 1-year term
Will you commit to investing in mental health services for students (i.e. school counselors, prevention programs, and access to community resources)?
Yes
Do you support universal free lunches for all students?
Yes
What do you see as the most significant challenge facing your school district right now? (70 word max)
Schools and families are feeling the effects of a tighter belt. Having quality educators and adequate resources has a direct effect on student success. We have already seen on a local and national level resistance to the increasing costs of social services and our schools are directly being affected. Our community has to find a way to responsibly and sustainably ensure that our students have what they need to succeed.
How will you ensure that students’ voices, experiences, and values are elevated to the school board when making decisions? (70 word max)
Having been a classroom volunteer for the last two years I regularly see how amazing Belgrade students are. They are curious, compassionate, resilient and more. Underestimating them as “just kids” would be a mistake. They know their struggles better than I ever could. I see my job as twofold: a representative for our community and support for our students. Ensuring they succeed academically and personally requires collaboration at all levels.
Cali Koerner Morrison
Will you commit to investing in mental health services for students (i.e. school counselors, prevention programs, and access to community resources)?
Yes
Do you support universal free lunches for all students?
No
What do you see as the most significant challenge facing your school district right now? (70 word max)
The most significant challenge our district will face is preparing our learners for the future of work that will greet them upon graduation. Panthers need to graduate with the technical skills to use innovations like artificial intelligence and big data, but also with the uniquely human skills which set them apart from the machines. Skills like creativity, communication, empathy, and curiosity will be necessary to build a thriving career.
How will you ensure that students’ voices, experiences, and values are elevated to the school board when making decisions? (70 word max)
In my experience, our board has a good track record of listening to learners when they show up. The issue is getting learners to show up. One idea I would like to float to the board is having learner representatives from the middle and high school, like the university system has a student regent. They can be the proxy and help inform their peers of the issues that matter.
Lila Beard
Will you commit to investing in mental health services for students (i.e. school counselors, prevention programs, and access to community resources)?
Yes
Do you support universal free lunches for all students?
No
What do you see as the most significant challenge facing your school district right now? (70 word max)
One of the challenges that the district faces right now is in the budget. Our students need programs and services supported to help keep them engaged and in school. Teacher need a living wage and facilities need to be kept up and safe. All of these areas keep our district stellar.
How will you ensure that students’ voices, experiences, and values are elevated to the school board when making decisions? (70 word max)
Belgrade School District 44 currently has a student representative that sits on the board. This gives the students a voice as their representative is present at meetings. The representative gives a report which keeps the board informed of events in the school. Means for students to be heard are in place. By following the chain of command student concerns will be brought to the board. Students are also welcome to attend board meetings.
Belgrade School District 3-year term
Walt Derzay
Will you commit to investing in mental health services for students (i.e. school counselors, prevention programs, and access to community resources)?
Yes
Do you support universal free lunches for all students?
No Response
What do you see as the most significant challenge facing your school district right now? (70 word max)
Managing growth. We need to responsibly grow our schools to meet the needs of our families while striving to be as fiscally accountable to our taxpayers who are being squeezed by an ever increasing cost of living in the area.
How will you ensure that students’ voices, experiences, and values are elevated to the school board when making decisions? (70 word max)
I will always listen to students and families because they are the purpose for the school. I will always listen to students and will enact policies that support student led education preparing them for the world.
Will you commit to investing in mental health services for students (i.e. school counselors, prevention programs, and access to community resources)?
Yes
Do you support universal free lunches for all students?
Yes
What do you see as the most significant challenge facing your school district right now? (70 word max)
Addressing financial constraints amid rapid community growth. The district is experiencing increased enrollment due to the city’s expansion, necessitating the construction of new educational facilities. However, efforts to secure funding through bonds and levies have been met with challenges. Balancing the need for infrastructure development with financial limitations remains a critical issue for the district
How will you ensure that students’ voices, experiences, and values are elevated to the school board when making decisions? (70 word max)
I will prioritize student voice by fostering open communication channels, such as student advisory groups or listening sessions, and regularly engaging with student leaders. By creating space for their perspectives and experiences, I can bring their voices directly to board discussions. Our decisions should reflect not just what is best for students—but also what is heard from students.
Belgrade School District 3-year term: Steve Garvert (Incumbent)- did not respond to the questionnaire
Belgrade School District 3-year term: Marie Boster- did not respond to the questionnaire
WTH is a levy?
A levy on a ballot asks voters to agree to a property tax to collect a set dollar amount for a set amount of years. Schools need a levy because state funding does not fully cover the costs of education for students.
BOZEMAN LEVIES
Bozeman Elementary General Fund Levy
This levy would help pay for the day-to-day operational costs of Bozeman’s elementary schools including programs, salaries, textbooks, insurance, etc. A homeowner with an assessed value of $300,000 would pay $2.85 in increased annual property taxes.
A yes vote means:
Voting for the new levy to help pay for operational costs of elementary schools.
A no vote means:
Voting against the new levy and not helping to pay for operational costs of elementary schools.
Bozeman Elementary Building Reserve Fund Levy
This levy would replace the existing levy to help fund projects such as roof maintenance, playground improvements, and classroom renovations. A homeowner with an assessed value of $300,000 would pay $26.25 in annual property taxes for this levy.
A yes vote means:
Voting to replace a levy to help pay for building costs of elementary schools.
A no vote means:
Voting against replacement of the levy and not helping to pay for building costs of elementary schools.
Bozeman High School General Fund Levy
This levy would help pay for the day-to-day operational costs of Bozeman’s high schools including programs, salaries, textbooks, insurance, etc. A homeowner with an assessed value of $300,000 would pay $2.22 in increased annual property taxes.
A yes vote means:
Voting for the levy to help pay for operational costs of high schools.
A no vote means:
Voting against the levy and not helping to pay for operational costs of high schools.
BELGRADE LEVIES
Belgrade Elementary General Fund Levy
This levy would help pay for the day-to-day operational costs of Belgrade’s elementary schools including programs, salaries, textbooks, insurance, etc. A homeowner with an assessed value of $300,000 would pay $3.93 in increased annual property taxes.
A yes vote means:
Voting for the levy to help pay for operational costs of elementary schools.
A no vote means:
Voting against this levy and not helping to pay for operational costs of elementary schools.
Belgrade High School General Fund Levy
This levy would help pay for the day-to-day operational costs of Belgrade’s high schools including programs, salaries, textbooks, insurance, etc. A homeowner with an assessed value of $300,000 would pay $2.27 in increased annual property taxes.
A yes vote means:
Voting for the levy to help pay for operational costs of high schools.
A no vote means:
Voting against the levy and not helping to pay for operational costs of high schools.