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Trustees discuss levy failures, outreach and plans for legislative advocacy
Summary
Trustees reflected on recent levy defeats, described parents forming an independent committee to communicate levy needs, reported meetings with legislators and budget staff, and encouraged participation in upcoming advocacy workshops at a statewide educator leadership convention.
Trustees used the informational reports portion of the meeting to focus on school funding, levy outreach and legislative advocacy.
One trustee summarized frustrations with repeated levy failures, including a recent $1‑a‑month levy that did not pass, and said a group of parents is forming an independent committee to better communicate school funding needs to voters. The trustee described the committee's goal as allowing more persuasive messaging than the district can legally provide: "Right now, we can't ... say it's raining on our children's heads because that invokes an emotion. Right now, we can't communicate that."
Several trustees encouraged participation in upcoming advocacy and leadership workshops. Trustee Sue said the Montana Quality Educator Leadership Convention will allow unlimited remote participation and highlighted advocacy workshops where trustees can learn how to communicate with legislators and prepare for the legislative session.
A trustee recounted a recent community event at Flathead High School where Congressman Ryan Zinke attended; the trustee said they spoke with him about school funding and urged the board to seize opportunities to explain district funding needs.
Trustees also provided a brief negotiations update: a finance committee presentation and subsequent negotiations committee proposal did not yield agreement on a final offer, and the board said negotiators would return to the table to review an offer from the KEA (the teachers' association).
Trustees asked for continued outreach and engagement with legislators and community members as the district prepares for the legislative year and possible levy efforts.
The meeting record does not show that the board took formal votes tied to levies or directed staff to spend specific funds; trustees described outreach, committee formation by parents, and planned advocacy training.
