Sealy/Salish Swan High School highlights small-school programs, BPA success and playoff football run
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Summary
Principal John Stilson and students presented an overview of Sealy/Salish Swan High School to the Missoula County Public Schools board, describing enrollment and demographics, extracurricular programs including BPA and choir, and a 7-0 football season leading to a home playoff game.
Principal John Stilson, in his first year at Sealy/Salish Swan High School, told the Missoula County Public Schools Board of Trustees that the school has roughly 90 students and about 10.5 full-time certified staff, with one administrative staff member (himself). He described a "large freshman class" (about 22–24 students) that recently boosted enrollment above 80 to roughly 90 students and said some students enrolled at Sealy/Salish Swan instead of larger neighborhood high schools because they prefer a smaller environment.
Stilson said about 57 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals and noted the school population is roughly 54 percent male and 46 percent female. He described small-school programming priorities: a strong emphasis on athletics, an active student council that planned homecoming, and extracurriculars that include choir, greenhouse and community-service projects. He told the board the choir program is in its second year and that he has succeeded in getting choir students to perform the national anthem at basketball games.
Students spoke to specific programs. Talon Good described work in marketing class where students created temporary tattoos and stickers, cut on a Cricut cutter, and sold them at night games; students who sold merchandise raised about $180. Good also noted the school's Business Professionals of America (BPA) program, saying six students attended nationals last year and the chapter now has 16 members after growth this year. Principal Stilson introduced Michelle Holmes as the BPA advisor and Amy Stevenson as the school secretary who supports daily operations.
On athletics, Stilson said the football team finished the regular season 7-0 and the school will host a playoff game, a notable event for the community. He described these activities as central to the school's small-community culture and student engagement.
Ending: The presentation was informational; trustees asked no follow-up questions during the school-connection agenda item and the board moved on to the public-comment period.