[{"_1":2,"_121":-5,"_122":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,85,97,109],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6579180,"mediaKeyId","3097372-d599499ec36da9d8f97647f7afdd1581","parentId",3097372,"title","Votes at a glance: Missoula County Public Schools board actions","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",3216000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3097372-d599499ec36da9d8f97647f7afdd1581&start=3216&end=3216","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3097372-d599499ec36da9d8f97647f7afdd1581/thumbnail_3216000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6579180/Montana/Votes-at-a-glance-Missoula-County-Public-Schools-board-actions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6579180-f7cb08cb400fc0e8fc8de12265447f50/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507869&Signature=ZUUURSQrCsleV4GXU3q~jKVBbn0enwkpbO2n2XdU6nAC9KHgCzr0lsU2U5Yuh8Kx0Vp7kWJa7RYyeccfP71~qxlY7zVn6gmuWVAI3A9CVE5ZoOB8sXpRROzGwV3z6tQu-x5h3CRUmtMY6r78QJrePGkoKQhg8JgGtsg9lOL6eFXUcv6jcVVesiDCj0X8Wpwdd4dB2to2mnYQv72BLOuAa87I90QQsnIgJiYeZG8BCvBz3W6cQavehCaGo11dEKgCKF3I~BBfvMtls-Gu7EFGN-VS~oHK5OF9n1dbT8cs74-9xWbLfet-Je8sdhTDXnH51yWFgtCCxaLZ1DquujH~~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Missoula Elem","date","2025-04-23T15:34:30.553Z","article","The Missoula County Public Schools Board of Trustees recorded the following actions and final outcomes at the meeting:

- Transportation contracts (elementary and secondary): Approved (elementary and high school motions approved by trustees present; routine consent agenda items).

- HB 252 (STARS Act) MOU authorization: Approved unanimously. Motion authorized Superintendent Micah Hill as signer for an MOU attesting the district will work with its teachers’ union to comply and pursue state funds.

- Meadow Hill Middle School domestic water-line replacement: Motion to award the contract to Northwest Mechanical pending successful negotiation approved unanimously by elementary trustees; base bid reported at $323,000.

- Lease rate increases and one-year extensions for Cancer Support Community Montana, Studio M and Friends of the Children: Approved by elementary trustees (4 yes, 1 abstention); administration will return after the district facilities study.

- Resolution declaring election by acclamation (High School Trustee Districts A and D): Approved unanimously. Administration reported the number of candidates equaled open seats and recommended acclamation.

- Tax increment financing (TIF) remittance agreement for FY 2025: Approved unanimously. Staff said prior remittances were used to reduce debt service levies and enhance reserves; final recommendation for use of funds will return to the board.

- Willard Alternative High School Grama calendar (secondary): Approved unanimously.

Votes recorded in the meeting were unanimous on several items and noted an elementary-only vote for the lease extensions with one abstention. For items where precise vote counts were not announced on the record, the board reported unanimous approval by trustees present.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","MCPS Board of Trustees Apr 22 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Summary of motions and final votes taken during the meeting, including transportation contracts, HB 252 MOU authorization, Meadow Hill contract award, lease extensions, election by acclamation, TIF remittance agreement and the Willard calendar.","taxTitle","Missoula Elem, School Districts, Montana","taxId",38287,"location","Montana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":42,"_43":78,"_45":78,"_46":79,"_48":80,"_50":81,"_52":82,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6579186,"District celebrates 10 years of arts integration, plans a free national-level conference for teachers",3693000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3097372-d599499ec36da9d8f97647f7afdd1581&start=3693&end=3693","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3097372-d599499ec36da9d8f97647f7afdd1581/thumbnail_3693000.jpg","/articles/6579186/Montana/District-celebrates-10-years-of-arts-integration-plans-a-free-national-level-conference-for-teachers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6579186-61feadbdb44609e0cd7d015d33f44af9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507869&Signature=BZrNuex~4KmN1zMXKPSLO-w5zYxaDqvm3r4FeX0olFAAJcU5IwzDeoYWxshuaSqB7H~UzPc-MPalQxmz6e0OQF1C7QOKxUKNvitRwxhX9OPaeMtwayEZVBxgTtmfVpAOSknQ90NHTsIuVQIxejeKkY4BMReBvvZJvWBr8QUXDgZdXeM9-SybSIxHmpNTJDpMW7RfnVZZbxKIDn7ukCcJPgQlMsp2DSNA8ztb52-iKdKqTMzjPvjdC3iACDblL5tUzaSnLqF7UtOxHm0FJgiFGPJT5RiLlwJJa1olmj3S-TxW-ulwy~9qUpBNmslHFxjFpSs1tX46w~lKntWphHtskA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Missoula County Public Schools used a board work session to showcase a decade of arts integration districtwide and to announce a teacher-focused arts-integration conference and awards night.

Assistant Superintendent Vinny Jamana led the presentation with Spark Arts and district arts-integration staff, noting arts integration is one of the district’s five strategic pillars. Staff described a timeline of growth—starting formal programming around 2013, expanding elementary and middle-school arts experiences, adding district visual-art teachers, and developing a vetted residency directory for teaching artists.

Sienna Claiborne, executive director of Spark Arts, said the district will host a tuition-free arts-integration conference for educators in June; staff said funding will cover the usual $425 conference fee so the event is free to participating teachers. The conference will include nationally recognized teaching artists associated with the Kennedy Center; administrators said they expect capacity for several hundred educators and that a June 19 networking event is planned. Spark also will hold an Arts Integration Awards Night at the Missoula Art Museum on May 14 from 5 to 7 p.m. to honor teacher leaders.

Karen Bartels, the district arts-integration instructional coach, and other staff led trustees through interactive activities used in classrooms—continuous-line drawing and wire-sculpture exercises, artist statements and a gallery walk—to demonstrate how arts integration supports student engagement and multiple ways for students to demonstrate learning.

Presenters linked arts integration to the district graduate profile and to research on teacher clarity and student engagement. Trustees praised the programming and the professional-development approach; several trustees noted the sessions produced high teacher engagement and classroom joy.

Administrators said the district will continue scaling arts integration across the system and will return with details as the conference and follow-up professional development are finalized.","Missoula schools held a work session highlighting a decade of arts integration, teacher-closeness initiatives and announced a free arts-integration conference in June with Kennedy Center teaching artists and a May 14 awards night for teacher leaders.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_46":91,"_48":92,"_50":93,"_52":94,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":95,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":96,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6579190,"Board approves award of Meadow Hill Middle School water-line replacement, base bid $323,000",230,1062000,1292000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3097372-d599499ec36da9d8f97647f7afdd1581&start=1062&end=1292","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3097372-d599499ec36da9d8f97647f7afdd1581/thumbnail_1062000.jpg","/articles/6579190/Montana/Board-approves-award-of-Meadow-Hill-Middle-School-water-line-replacement-base-bid-323000","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6579190-f9b7f277748d2f1f0d329351feaf2b10/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507869&Signature=Ph-umqzryaeJ5EYwwaSP~QT-Dq0lmWzpZ5oeKK39dYmF7Bz~~TdAICWVvxaHm~YtyQOtnGV-ERx8w2jC-CpCG9s2T0AyAUCYjzgfYnicxyCPWkT6G4sYAwvp6ib3TPS0QiBIuOQi22IwhuN1UiHovKIcwyAY3CmfYEA7Lr7ui2At8oFTzgDARV5FJjjjwtDfHiJW1pYJ1YXTHewAietk9yq7HqOWbfV~iBtuKhKoogR50aH8YLWq5u5QXWxQFyrXRSTE0hDb6ibaxJkn3RzQDHV6aWmpL~k~uTE5-brQqOFIgP8RVQAUGsYXCYmYArjxA0WHNvo~xGgRPQS6B~rvzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Missoula County Public Schools Board of Trustees approved administration’s recommendation to award the contract to replace domestic water lines at Meadow Hill Middle School to Northwest Mechanical, pending successful negotiation.

Facilities staff told the board the project addresses lead pipe needs in the 7th and 8th grade wings and the 6th grade wing and includes replacement of several faucets and fixtures in the music wing. The administration reported a base bid of $323,000 and said alternates remain under consideration during negotiation.

Trustee Hayes moved to award the bid to Northwest Mechanical pending a successful contract negotiation; Trustee Aftaras seconded. The elementary trustees voted to approve the award unanimously.

Administration noted a prior similar project (Porter) had been reimbursed by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, which helped replenish permissive levy funds; staff said they will pursue similar reimbursement opportunities for Meadow Hill where eligible.","Trustees approved awarding a contract to Northwest Mechanical for replacement of domestic water lines at Meadow Hill Middle School; the base bid was reported at $323,000 and the award was contingent on successful contract negotiation.",{"_33":98,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":99,"_41":100,"_43":101,"_45":102,"_46":103,"_48":104,"_50":105,"_52":106,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":107,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":108,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6579193,"Board authorizes superintendent to sign MOU under HB 252 to secure state teacher-pay funds",306,810000,1116000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3097372-d599499ec36da9d8f97647f7afdd1581&start=810&end=1116","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3097372-d599499ec36da9d8f97647f7afdd1581/thumbnail_810000.jpg","/articles/6579193/Montana/Board-authorizes-superintendent-to-sign-MOU-under-HB-252-to-secure-state-teacher-pay-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6579193-6afcb5192d8cf30259fdc6a25e2958f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507869&Signature=FyXzbl5R4RiVCIKWHNFNtWxjqzZVsTTkI0L3dp0rSmwuoLLl7oV483UVx72LFNnU5K9HSHBjFsT18~ENjA~noQAG86Vg8xZCHfHU04SA3IXHnmycMwdBmjBtQz3BUDXidUKXW5YXJ2xi0EyAtE7SGG7yofedIfDIJKtjiYzGZXcoUF0JUGVU5tQIMEESFg-C2N7bYjyOHOXIZusdGxqtwkJCiM9iWJ5tyczKzHCqHWzdLTludBM7Ldgw15viibeNQYGPPzGy7AYJLzrJ7tTOdbgZuJKcsoQKwZ3VKF2M23pxVWK9H~i9rvfustz6vUDdsKjNQXm-39SoyktA5Xb8nw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Missoula County Public Schools Board of Trustees unanimously authorized Superintendent Micah Hill to sign a memorandum of understanding with the district’s teachers’ union to document compliance with House Bill 252, known in the meeting as the STARS Act.

Superintendent Micah Hill told trustees the bill requires districts to phase base teacher pay toward 70% of average teacher pay over five years and to meet a stated floor tied to the quality educator payment. “Basically says, in a 5 year period of time, we will be bringing base teacher pay up to 70% of average teacher pay, and no less than 11 times the quality educator payment,” Hill said during the presentation.

Hill said the administration included the full text of the bill in the packet and sought board authorization for him to sign an MOU attesting the district will work with the union to ensure compliance so the district can receive state funds. He said the law’s effective date could be as soon as May 15 and that the district must attest by May 15 and demonstrate a contract in place by July 1, 2025, per the bill’s timeline as discussed in the meeting.

Trustee Mercer asked whether separate educational entities would be combined for the purpose of calculating the average teacher pay; Hill replied the district and charter calculations are treated as one pooled measure for the state calculation, though the entities remain separate locally.

Trustee Wake moved the authorization; Trustee Walsh seconded. The board voted unanimously to authorize Superintendent Micah Hill as an authorized signer for the MOU.","Trustees unanimously authorized Superintendent Micah Hill to sign a memorandum of understanding with the teachers’ union to attest the district will comply with House Bill 252 (the STARS Act) and pursue related funding.",{"_33":110,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":111,"_41":112,"_43":113,"_45":114,"_46":115,"_48":116,"_50":117,"_52":118,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":119,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":120,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6579194,"School board extends leases for three nonprofits, approves rent increase to $8 per square foot",1532,1237000,2769000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3097372-d599499ec36da9d8f97647f7afdd1581&start=1237&end=2769","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3097372-d599499ec36da9d8f97647f7afdd1581/thumbnail_1237000.jpg","/articles/6579194/Montana/School-board-extends-leases-for-three-nonprofits-approves-rent-increase-to-8-per-square-foot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6579194-14bb981cda4eede158c3857e846b9643/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507869&Signature=YBcMxAlmsZfty~zE8G43ivg9-9kgMvRYJEnoY8Ey86xSB69lNDr4nqcd9pO0w9jF30E84c~kDKsuGV4OqBNMfad4fLqxJ9oSYT40h~8RSfn8JbUAVWrANI1hQbd~V0rR~PHgumpCI-ibgh4X5pv8j~ZC-aAcOu~W2InUM2eMNvb0LXDC31QLa2quf68l9vUlC8uCaCZN1BstkWd1XmEaHkm2Up7c-pqtjLoXyOuW401VrCz3OW188Hw6dHAqIiMPs-5N0mU9cGFMSKQ~pu1x8zyaVwBA7lP-T0b3xGxJHg0xLiVSKS~TO0qpZbb0ci3dskZ3POXeU4ZTnwmsQT1Xmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Missoula County Public Schools on Monday approved one-year extensions of facility leases for three community organizations and raised elementary lease rates to $8 per square foot beginning August 2025.

The board approved the elementary-only motion, as amended, 4–0 with one abstention. Trustees voted to renew leases for Cancer Support Community Montana, Studio M and Friends of the Children for one year and to set the rent at $8 per square foot in August 2025; an originally proposed second-year increase to $10 per square foot was removed from the motion.

The change affects organizations that currently occupy district-owned school space. Facilities director Burley McWilliams told trustees the district had increased rates from $3 to $5 per square foot in recent years, and recommended a phased approach to move closer to market while keeping longtime community partners in place.

Ben Davis, executive director of Friends of the Children, spoke during public comment and warned of the programmatic impact if rents rose further. “If you were to adopt the second year, it would be an 89% increase on our rent,” Davis said, adding that his nonprofit would face roughly $30,000 more per year under the previously proposed two-year increase and could be forced to serve fewer children or relocate.

Trustees and staff discussed several tradeoffs: district staff said lease revenue helps offset facility maintenance and unplanned repairs, and trustees noted the district’s real estate is a significant asset that must be stewarded. Trustee discussion included requests for more precise square-footage accounting and consideration of organizations’ community value when setting rates.

Trustees also noted the district will complete a comprehensive facilities study in December; administration recommended one-year agreements to await that study before setting longer-term lease policy.

The board’s action keeps the three tenants in place for a year at $8 per square foot starting August 2025, with the possibility of revisiting rates after the district’s facility study is complete.","Missoula County Public Schools approved one-year lease extensions for Cancer Support Community Montana, Studio M and Friends of the Children and raised the elementary lease rate to $8 per square foot beginning August 2025 (an initially proposed second-year rise to $10 was removed). The vote was 4 in favor, 1 abstention among elementary trustees.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Missoula County Public Schools board actions

District celebrates 10 years of arts integration, plans a free national-level conference for teachers

Board approves award of Meadow Hill Middle School water-line replacement, base bid $323,000

Board authorizes superintendent to sign MOU under HB 252 to secure state teacher-pay funds

School board extends leases for three nonprofits, approves rent increase to $8 per square foot