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

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.