2026 School Board Voter Guide

Tanya Ludwig

Running for: Billings SD #2 – Elementary Zone 1

Will you commit to addressing houselessness and food insecurity amongst students in our community? Yes

Will you support students’ first amendment rights in school libraries by preventing censorship? Yes

How would you ensure that school district policies protect student safety, privacy, and First Amendment rights, including in situations involving immigration enforcement or student expression, while remaining in compliance with state and federal law?
I would ensure this by making sure our policies are up to date when it comes to the safety of our kids and that is the same as the privacy and First Amendment rights. All kids have a right to an education. Kids should also be able to express their beliefs just as long as it does not interfere with operation of school.

What specific and evidence based measures would you support to prevent gun violence and improve mental health support programs in our schools?
Mental health is so important in our schools and it is important to bring in special guests to speak about mental health issues. We need to keep advocating for the prevention of gun violence and addressing the importance of suicide prevention as well.

Do you believe that bonds and levies are essential to raising necessary funds for our schools? Explain why or why not.
Bonds and levies are very important to fund our schools. This is due to the State of Montana leaving it up to the taxpayers to pay the other 20% to fully fund the schools. This is why we reach out to you, the voter to be there for our kids, who are the future leaders.

Mark Taylor

Running for: Billings SD #2 – High School District B

Will you commit to addressing houselessness and food insecurity amongst students in our community? Yes

Will you support students’ first amendment rights in school libraries by preventing censorship? Yes

How would you ensure that school district policies protect student safety, privacy, and First Amendment rights, including in situations involving immigration enforcement or student expression, while remaining in compliance with state and federal law?
I will vote against proposals that reduce student safety, privacy, and – keeping in mind that these are children – their First Amendment rights. On the one hand, we need to protect children from pornography and graphic violence, but on the other hand, we need to allow them to explore widely. Following state law ensures that we are protecting First Amendment rights.

What specific and evidence based measures would you support to prevent gun violence and improve mental health support programs in our schools?
I will vote to keep all sorts of weapons out of schools and away from schools entirely, other than those carried by police. I would consider a limited exception if we offer firearms safety training to the public.

Do you believe that bonds and levies are essential to raising necessary funds for our schools? Explain why or why not.
Basic state funding requires schools to pass local levies and bond issues. Contrary to statements by those who oppose levies, money to fund basic programs matters a lot. A very large number of students – nearly one in four – requires more intense instruction than what works for most, just in order to reach a “proficient” level of skill. This requires more personnel and specially designed programs, and these are costly.

Ron Barnett

Will you commit to addressing houselessness and food insecurity amongst students in our community? Yes

Do you support policies preventing gun violence to improve school safety, such as mental health support programs in our schools? Yes

How would you ensure that school district policies protect student safety, privacy, and 1st Amendment rights, including in situations involving immigration enforcement or student expression, while remaining in compliance with state and federal law?
Yes, as long as students are in compliance with State and federal law.

What civic competencies should students develop in their time in public school, and what role do classrooms and in-school club chapters play in achieving this?
Hopefully, we as a school may get involved in the community to help educate students in school of the value of community activities to better our community and school.

Do you believe that bonds and levies are essential to raising necessary funds for our schools? Explain why or why not.
Yes bonds and levies are needed for a great education for the students and to maintain quality educators. However there must be responsible budgeting and planning to maintain that goal!

Stephen “Scott” Mueller

*Incumbent

Will you commit to addressing houselessness and food insecurity amongst students in our community? Yes

Do you support policies preventing gun violence to improve school safety, such as mental health support programs in our schools? Yes

How would you ensure that school district policies protect student safety, privacy, and 1st Amendment rights, including in situations involving immigration enforcement or student expression, while remaining in compliance with state and federal law?
School Boards are responsible for passage of policies dictating how the schools will be run, ensuring student safety and learning, and creation of student support programs including mental health supports. Having served as a member of a school board for 26 years, I have found that the key skill in accomplishing this is listening, to students and their parents, and community residents. I have worked as a college professor for fifty years, working with young adults, and working to create safe communities handling differences.

What civic competencies should students develop in their time in public school, and what role do classrooms and in-school club chapters play in achieving this?
This question has no easy, quick answer. When I think about civic competencies that are essential to education, I first think about critical thinking skills. The ability to help students to develop the skills of thinking about competing ideas, and that should be the shared mission of classroom activities and enrichment activities within the schools.

Do you believe that bonds and levies are essential to raising necessary funds for our schools? Explain why or why not.
The funding of public education in Montana is fundamentally flawed. A decision is made about the cost of education, and then the state provides 80% of that cost in state aid. Communities must then make up the shortfall in the form of levies and bonds. If levies and bonds are not passed, education goes underfunded in the community. Why would we design a funding formula that permits the underfunding of education costs?

Lila Beard

*Incumbent

Will you commit to addressing houselessness and food insecurity amongst students in our community? Yes

Do you support policies preventing gun violence to improve school safety, such as mental health support programs in our schools? Yes

How would you ensure that school district policies protect student safety, privacy, and 1st Amendment rights, including in situations involving immigration enforcement or student expression, while remaining in compliance with state and federal law?
Policies and procedures are in place to protect all students who attend public schools. My responsibility as a board member is to support the superintendent in making sure all administrators and staff in our district know the policies and procedures necessary in handling safety, privacy, 1st Amendment rights, immigration enforcement and student expression. The policies of the district directly align with state and federal laws which ensure protection of the students and their rights. Once a student sets foot on school property, they are the responsibility of the school district and that is taken very seriously by all districts as the district is then liable for anything that might happen to those individuals.

What civic competencies should students develop in their time in public school, and what role do classrooms and in-school club chapters play in achieving this?
Thomas Jefferson believed that an educated public led to better citizens/voters and a strong country with civic competency. Ways schools make sure their students are civically competent is by helping them develop how to think critically, work together in groups, and to communicate and discuss issues using evidence and not just emotion. Teachers use the Socratic method or debate to reinforce these skills. Students are taught in their social studies classes their constitutional rights, parts and responsibilities of government, and how they can use avenues within the system to make changes and have their voices heard. In the English department of our district students are encouraged through writing assignments to research and write about their freedoms and how they can use those freedoms for the benefit of their community, state and country.

These skills are further developed outside the classroom through clubs and activities. Speech and Debate, Business Partners of America, FFA, and all other organizations directly impact these same civic skills. Students in any organization learn to collaborate with their fellow students to reach goals and succeed. Some will have to research if they are a competitive group such as Speech and Debate, BPA or FFA because in competition you often must bring evidence and facts to the discussion/topic.

Through the classroom, clubs and activities students learn to understand their rights and responsibilities as citizens of the United States, the state of Montana and their local communities.

Do you believe that bonds and levies are essential to raising necessary funds for our schools? Explain why or why not.
Bonds and levies are essential to funding schools and serve different purposes. Bonds are for expenses such as property, and buildings while levies are for learning, (i.e., teachers’ pay and benefits, student materials, anything it takes to keep each school functioning).

Bonds are for buildings, which means the funds will be used to build a new school, purchase land, or do substantial renovations to current facilities. Without bonds the infrastructure of schools that need renovation and the need for future expansion are lost.

Let’s look at levies. Property taxes in the state of Montana go toward funding education in the state. Each district is given so much per student within a district from the state. The state gives each district 80% of the money needed to run their schools. The local community is expected to fund the other 20% to effectively operate the district’s schools by passing levies. Many people see the high property taxes in their area and do not understand that this money is not what gets spent at the local level but is sent to the state for distribution. Areas with larger populations and higher property taxes help fund some of the smaller schools throughout the state. Without the levies teachers and students would be negatively affected. As costs go up, levies need to be increased to cover employee wages, utilities, books and other operating cost increases.

Kevin Black

*Incumbent

Will you commit to addressing houselessness and food insecurity amongst students in our community? Yes

Do you support policies preventing gun violence to improve school safety, such as mental health support programs in our schools? Yes

How would you ensure that school district policies protect student safety, privacy, and 1st Amendment rights, including in situations involving immigration enforcement or student expression, while remaining in compliance with state and federal law?
Currently, BSD7 has policy in place regarding protecting student that consider both Federal and State laws.

What civic competencies should students develop in their time in public school, and what role do classrooms and in-school club chapters play in achieving this?
Students in BSD7 have many clubs and extracurricular activities they can participate in from elementary school to high school. Any of these activities or clubs are excellent to help students grow, understand different prospectives and support our community.

Do you believe that bonds and levies are essential to raising necessary funds for our schools? Explain why or why not.
Bozeman is an amazing community that truly supports our public schools by passing bonds and levies. BSD7 has worked very hard to create a high level of trust regarding the management of taxpayer dollars. Yes, I support bonds and levies as they are a part of the system create by State to support public schools.

Greg Neil

*Incumbent

Will you commit to addressing houselessness and food insecurity amongst students in our community? Yes

Do you support policies preventing gun violence to improve school safety, such as mental health support programs in our schools? Yes

How would you ensure that school district policies protect student safety, privacy, and 1st Amendment rights, including in situations involving immigration enforcement or student expression, while remaining in compliance with state and federal law?
I support – please review my school board trustee voting record.

What civic competencies should students develop in their time in public school, and what role do classrooms and in-school club chapters play in achieving this?
I fully support students engaging in volunteer work and community service and encourage kids to join school clubs and be a positive member of their school community.

Do you believe that bonds and levies are essential to raising necessary funds for our schools? Explain why or why not.
Yes, bonds support buildings and facilities, levies support teachers and staff. Community/voter support of these is essential for a public school district to maximize its ability to provide services to kids.

Patrick Zimmy

Will you commit to addressing houselessness and food insecurity amongst students in our community? Yes

Do you support policies preventing gun violence to improve school safety, such as mental health support programs in our schools? Yes

How would you ensure that school district policies protect student safety, privacy, and 1st Amendment rights, including in situations involving immigration enforcement or student expression, while remaining in compliance with state and federal law?
Student safety, privacy, and free expression aren’t just legal checkboxes. They are the foundation of a school where every child can thrive. I’d ensure BSD7 has clear, regularly reviewed policies developed transparently with community input and grounded in state and federal law. Every student belongs here, full stop. The board follows the law and within that, no family should fear the door, and no student should fear their own voice.

What civic competencies should students develop in their time in public school, and what role do classrooms and in-school club chapters play in achieving this?
Students should leave BSD7 able to think critically, engage respectfully with people they disagree with, and show up for their community. Classroom environments build that foundation through discussion, diverse perspectives, and learning how decisions get made. Clubs and student organizations put it into practice. Student government, service groups, and debate aren’t extras; they’re where civic identity gets built. The board’s job is to protect and resource that space.

Do you believe that bonds and levies are essential to raising necessary funds for our schools? Explain why or why not.
Montana’s funding formula limits what districts can do on their own bonds, and levies are often the only path to meaningful investments in facilities, staffing, and programs. In a district like BSD7, that’s real. I’ll support bonds and levies tied to student outcomes, honestly budgeted, and transparently tracked. Bozeman families have shown they’ll invest in their schools – the board’s job is to earn that trust every time.