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Board authorizes superintendent to sign MOU attesting compliance with HB 252 funding requirements
Summary
Missoula County Public Schools trustees unanimously authorized the superintendent to sign a memorandum of understanding with the teachers union to attest compliance with House Bill 252’s pay and reporting requirements so the district can receive state funds.
The Missoula County Public Schools Board of Trustees unanimously authorized the superintendent to sign a memorandum of understanding with the teachers’ union to meet attestation requirements in House Bill 252, which the administration said is necessary for the district to receive state allocation tied to teacher pay.
Superintendent Michael Hill (identified in materials and the public packet variously as Michael and Micah Hill) explained that HB 252 requires districts to attest they will work with their unions to bring base teacher pay to at least 70% of average teacher pay within a five-year window and to meet specified quality educator payment conditions. The bill becomes effective on May 15 (the transcript records the administration’s concern about exact effective dates and the governor’s expected signature timing). Hill told the board the district qualifies for funds but must sign an attestation by May 15 and asked trustees to authorize him as the district’s signer for the MOU.
Trustees asked clarifying questions about how local and charter schools are treated for average-pay calculations. Hill said the calculation will treat the local educational entities as a single pooled group for the purpose of computing the average teacher pay; charter schools are included in the aggregate for the calculation, he said.
The administration recommended authorizing Superintendent Michael Hill as the signer so the district can attest and receive the funding; Trustee Wake moved the authorization and Trustee Walsh seconded. The vote to authorize Hill as the district’s authorized signer was unanimous among trustees present.
The board packet included the full text of HB 252 and the administration said the memorandum would be coordinated with human resources and legal counsel. Trustees and staff emphasized that this authorization is an administrative attestation step tied to state funding; any actual changes to collective bargaining or the district’s future contract terms would follow the district’s negotiated bargaining process with the union.
Speakers named in this item include Superintendent Michael Hill and Trustees Wake, Walsh and Mercer (questions).
