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!
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.
Kalispell High School General Operating Levy
This levy would help pay for the day-to-day operational costs of Kalispell’s high schools including programs, salaries, textbooks, insurance, etc. A homeowner with an assessed value of $300,000 would pay $49.56 in increased annual property taxes.
A yes vote means:
Voting for a levy to help pay for operational costs of high schools.
Forward Montana has endorsed the levy and encourages you to vote yes!
A no vote means:
Voting against the levy and not helping to pay for operational costs of high schools.
#DYK that the Kalispell School District has not passed a levy in 18 years! Passing this levy is critical to ensuring that KPS can remain successful in career and college placement post high school graduation.
This school levy is necessary to prevent:
- Elimination of 20+ high school teaching positions and increased class sizes
- Reduction of more than 100 high school course offerings
- Phasing out FFA, athletics teams, trades courses like welding, arts programs and more!
Forward Montana has endorsed this levy and encourages you to vote yes! Check out One Brave PAC to hear directly from high school students and learn more!