Missoula school leaders warn declining enrollment and federal cuts could force staff reductions unless levies and STARS Act funds materialize

Superintendent Hill and district finance and human-resources staff told the Missoula County Public Schools (MCPS) Board of Trustees on April 14 that declining enrollment, reductions in federal Title funding and higher operating costs have put the district in a position where some staffing reductions tied to enrollment are under consideration.

The superintendent and staff outlined the district’s timeline and rules for staffing changes — including leave-of-absence deadlines, the March “arena” hiring process described by staff, and June 1 as the Montana code date that allows districts to nonrenew non‑tenured teachers — and said early notification to employees is a priority even when enrollment remains uncertain.

Why it matters: MCPS has seen falling K–5 enrollment for three consecutive years and a net reduction in state and federal funding categories that underpin classroom staffing. Staff and trustees said local levies and the STARS Act quality educator payment (QEP) at the state level could materially change the district’s budget picture for next year but are not guaranteed.

District staff members gave detailed examples of how the enrollment-driven process operates. Trevor (staff member), who described the placement process and collective bargaining constraints, said the district notifies employees early so they can pursue other openings and participate in negotiated procedures. He cited February 15 as the deadline for employees on leave to notify the district of intent to return, and February 4 (the spring count) as the enrollment anchor the district uses to estimate sections and staffing.

Micah (staff member) showed weekly enrollment spreadsheets that track capacity and per‑grade seat availability across schools and said the district currently has roughly 325 open elementary seats across buildings (all grades EL–5 combined). He said 338 students attend schools outside their home attendance areas, which is part of why staff sometimes propose leveling or student transfers rather than adding a teacher to every building.

Pat (finance staff) presented budget scenarios used by the district’s budget and levy committee. He summarized three revenue pressures: declining Title I/II funding, lower A&B (enrollment) counts and rising costs for liability insurance, utilities and other goods. He said early modeling shows the district could be roughly balanced if the STARS Act QEP and local levies pass, but would face shortfalls if they do not. Pat also said the STARS Act represents roughly $52,000,000 statewide and would be distributed as a per‑QEP payment (transcript cited $3,700 per qualifying educator payment), while noting that districts must sustain programmatic commitments to keep QEP funding over time.

Public comment and program impact: Helen Moss, an ELL teacher at Porter Middle School, told the board the ELL population includes many students who are nonliterate or semi‑literate in their home languages and need intensive, specialized instruction. “I implore the board to keep funding consistent so our ELL students don't lose the support they need to ensure their success here in Missoula,” Moss said. District staff later noted that Title III and other ELL funding have decreased and that Montana is one of the few states that does not provide additional state funding for ELL programs.

Staff described how the district tries to minimize mid‑summer layoffs by using early reductions and by offering reassignment or recall processes under the collective bargaining agreement. Trevor and Micah said the “arena” process (an internal hiring fair required by the CBA in March) and building‑level callbacks are part of the negotiated procedures. Staff stressed they prefer moving or offering assignments where possible rather than laying people off mid‑summer.

Options and tradeoffs: Board members asked whether the district could delay reductions for a year if levies and the STARS Act both pass; staff said that is possible but would come “at a cost,” chiefly in salary and benefits obligations the district would need to fund. Trustees and staff discussed the tradeoffs between prioritizing lower class sizes and prioritizing salary increases during negotiations; staff said those are central choices the budget and levy committee will weigh with union leadership and the administration.

Votes at a glance: the board approved several routine items during the same meeting. Motions and outcomes recorded in the meeting transcript include:

- Motion to approve the agenda as written (moved by Trustee Waik; second by Vice Chair F. Garris). Outcome: approved unanimously ("Unanimous to all trustees present"). - Motion to approve the regular board meeting minutes of 03/25/2025 (moved by Trustee Wake; second by Vice Chair Garris). Outcome: approved unanimously. - Motion to approve the elementary consent agenda (moved by Trustee Witcher; second by Trustee Walsh). Outcome: approved unanimously. - Motion to approve the elementary personnel report (moved by Vice Chair F. Garris; second by Trustee Walsh). Outcome: approved unanimously. - Motion to approve the high school personnel report (moved by Trustee Wake; second by Vice Chair Walker Andrews). Outcome: approved unanimously. - Motion to approve the Seeley‑Swan High School 2025–26 calendar (moved by Vice Chair Walker Andrews; second by Trustee Gamel). Outcome: approved unanimously. - Motion to approve the out‑of‑country travel request for Hellgate language classes (moved by Trustee Wake; second by Vice Chair Walker Andrews). Outcome: approved unanimously.

Discussion items that did not produce immediate action: staff presented possible staffing changes tied to enrollment and described the district’s plan for levels, callbacks and transportation implications for leveled students. Staff said families will receive letters by April 15 asking whether out‑of‑area students intend to remain at their current school; families will have until May 12 to respond and principals will review requests with district staff on May 20.

The board's next steps will include continued budget and levy committee work, negotiations with employee groups, and a final budget adoption in August. Trustees emphasized they want transparent community communications about leveling, transfers and the tradeoffs the district faces.

Sources: Presentation and spreadsheets shared with the board and multiple staff statements during the April board meeting, public comment from Porter Middle School ELL teacher Helen Moss and Q&A between trustees and staff.