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Scobey K-12 Schools board votes to reinstate speech and drama, hires Shannon Nelson as adviser
Summary
After public comment and a board discussion about participation and cost, the Scobey K-12 Schools board voted by voice to add speech and drama for 2025–26 and to hire Shannon Nelson as the program adviser; MHSA paperwork and a $500 fee were noted as immediate next steps.
The Scobey K-12 Schools board voted by voice to reinstate its speech and drama program for the 2025–26 school year and to hire Shannon Nelson as adviser.
The vote followed public comment urging the board to save the program and a board discussion about low coach availability and student participation. A public commenter told the board that studies show drama improves students’ confidence, communication and academic performance and offered to help fundraise if finances were the barrier. Speaker 5 (reporting on the district’s situation) said coaches and participation have been low this year but that the Montana High School Association (MHSA) has granted the district an extension until Wednesday to submit required paperwork.
Board members questioned the program’s costs and viability for a small student cohort. Speakers referenced prior-year expenses (coaching stipends and travel) and discussed ways to limit fundraising overlaps and to use concessions or student-council scheduling to reduce pressure on the community. Speaker 6 moved to add speech and drama and to hire Shannon Nelson; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The district must file an MHSA form and a $500 check to finalize association registration.
Why it matters: Supporters said speech and drama reaches students who may not fit in sports and provides social and academic benefits; opponents and cautious board members emphasized budgetary limits and questioned whether a very small roster can justify recurring program costs. The board directed staff to complete the MHSA paperwork and to report back if additional funding or a coach roster appears before the MHSA deadline.
The board did not record individual roll-call votes in the transcript; the motion passed on a voice vote and implementation steps (MHSA form and payment) were identified as immediate follow-ups.
