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Bozeman trustees agree to study high‑school boundary changes, form small task force
Summary
Superintendent Bertram and trustees agreed to pursue a data‑driven review of high‑school boundaries during the 2024–25 school year, using a small-task force to draft options and a later community survey; trustees raised concerns about timeline, transition planning and community trust.
Superintendent Bertram told the Board of Trustees that executive cabinet recommends starting a small‑task‑force review of high‑school boundaries in the 2024–25 school year to address enrollment discrepancies between Gallatin High and Bozeman High. "We would move forward during the 2425 school year, with looking at high school boundaries," Bertram said, and described a process of front‑end analysis followed by draft options from a small group of experts and a large‑scale survey for full community input.
The proposal responds to staff findings that Gallatin High is at or near capacity while Bozeman High has unused capacity. Trustee Lucene summarized community concerns if lines change, noting the possibility that "kids hav[ing] to move, or ... students of two different high schools" in the same family would create anger and distrust. Trustee Moran warned that perceived inequities between two high schools could drain staff time and divide families.
Board members said the task force should weigh socioeconomic equity, projected population growth, alignment of middle‑school feeders with high‑school boundaries and impacts on transportation costs. Trustees emphasized careful public outreach, multiple boundary options and a clear transition plan like the one used after Gallatin High opened. Several trustees urged scheduling that accounts for February registration and class scheduling timelines.
Trustees who reported back from small‑group discussions said there was broad support for moving forward with the recommended process, with some outstanding questions about feeder‑school patterns and exact timeline. Bertram said the process would aim for a formal recommendation to the board by spring break of the 2024–25 school year, though the precise timeline is tied to when any boundary change would need to be implemented.
No formal vote or policy change occurred; the board treated the recommendation as direction to pursue further analysis and stakeholder engagement. The superintendent and trustees said the task force would include staff, parents and students and that proposed boundary options would be refined before being presented to the full community for feedback.
The meeting paused for lunch and planned to reconvene later to continue related conversation about K–8 boundaries and district organization.
