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Montana Board of Public Education approves contracts for five new charter schools
Summary
At a March 5 special Zoom meeting, the Montana Board of Public Education approved execution of contracts for five newly authorized public charter schools to meet a 45-day statutory requirement; staff said all contracts were returned without questions.
At a special March 5, 2025 Zoom meeting, the Montana Board of Public Education voted to approve execution of contracts for five newly authorized public charter schools, a step staff said was needed to meet a 45-day statutory timeline.
Executive Director Flynn told the board staff had reviewed the contracts and “received all of them back without any question or any concern,” and outlined requirements the schools must meet, including submitting an initial statement, quarterly financial statements and their most recent audits, adhering to the board’s performance framework, and disclosing any contracts with education service providers. Flynn said the contracts are the same form used previously and staff will send executed contracts and a timeline to the schools after the meeting.
“20-6-806 requires that we execute charter contracts within 45 days,” Flynn told the board, noting the board called the special meeting because the statutory 45th day had passed and the agency bill had not yet cleared the Legislature.
Dr. Ron Slinger moved to approve the public charter contracts for the five charter schools listed in the meeting packet; the motion was seconded by board member Madeline Quinlan. With no public comment online, the board approved the motion by voice vote and Chair Tharpe declared, “Motion carries.”
Board members and staff discussed how the schools are cooperating to meet reporting obligations. Flynn said staff had worked with Maslow and school business officials to streamline the quarterly financial reporting forms and provide examples to help new schools in their first year; she also suggested the board or OPI convenings as future venues for sharing best practices among charter operators.
The board did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript; the meeting record shows the approval passed by voice vote. Chair Tharpe closed the meeting, thanked attendees and reminded members the board will meet in Helena/East Helena next Monday through Wednesday.
The action approves the five charter contracts required for the schools to open in the 2025–26 school year and directs staff to return executed contracts and a compliance timeline to each school.
