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Big Sky School Board approves facility use, a teacher hire and procedures after student protest; discusses curriculum and permissive levy advertising
Summary
The board moved and passed a series of routine items unanimously — approving a PTO facility request, hiring a 1.0 FTE teacher, adopting SB 307 permissive levy documentation, approving fourth‑ and fifth‑grade materials, and endorsing ad hoc procedures following a Jan. 30 student protest. Trustees debated staff neutrality and student rights.
The Big Sky School K‑12 board approved several routine items and adopted recommended procedures following a Jan. 30 student demonstration, while receiving reports from administrators on staffing, facilities and upcoming events.
In a series of unanimous voice votes the board approved a PTO facility request for campus events, ratified the hire of Nate Lucas for 1.0 full‑time equivalent for the 2026‑27 school year, approved documentation to advertise anticipated permissive levies under Senate Bill 307, and approved fourth‑ and fifth‑grade curricular materials. The board also moved and adopted recommended procedures created by an ad hoc committee that reviewed the Jan. 30 incident.
During the discussion about the Jan. 30 demonstration, trustees and administrators talked through how staff should respond to on‑ and off‑campus student expression, limits on disciplinary action when constitutional rights are exercised and how press presence should be handled. The superintendent described reviewing policies and guidance from the Montana School Boards Association and said the proposed procedures are intended as administrative guidance rather than new policy. Chair (speaker 2) emphasized students’ rights, saying, "Kids don't lose their rights when they walk through the school door." The board discussed balancing neutrality expectations for staff and protecting instructional time.
Board members heard reports before the votes: the superintendent summarized enrollment and a potential major repair to a water tank that may require substantial spending; the high‑school academic report covered upcoming ACT testing, PSAT recognitions and IB exam preparations; the elementary principal updated trustees on 4K assessment requirements and 15 families who have expressed interest in the district's 4K program; and the activities director reported spring sports sign‑ups.
Votes at a glance: the meeting record shows motions moved and seconded and voice votes passing unanimously for the PTO facility request, the Nate Lucas hire, SB 307 documentation, approval of fourth‑ and fifth‑grade materials, the ad hoc committee procedures, and the consent agenda.
What’s next: the board set future meeting dates (including an April 14 meeting and an organizational meeting in May) and adjourned.
