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Belgrade board authorizes superintendent to advocate for $6.63 million elementary bond
Summary
The Belgrade School Board unanimously authorized the superintendent to promote an elementary‑school bond this fall after trustees described outreach plans, a reduced bond request and an estimated tax impact for homeowners.
The Belgrade School Board on Oct. 13 voted unanimously to authorize the superintendent to promote an upcoming elementary‑school bond question, formalizing district outreach and information efforts ahead of ballots mailed Oct. 17.
Under the motion, the board empowered the superintendent to "engage in all necessary and appropriate activities to promote and advocate for the passage" of the elementary bond approved by the board on Aug. 11, 2025. The motion cited section 2‑2‑122 of the Montana Code Annotated and carried on a 7–0 voice vote.
Superintendent Didi told trustees the current ballot contains two questions: a $6,630,000 measure that would be added to roughly $20,000,000 the district already has authority to issue for school projects, and a separate optional question to add a full‑size gym for about $5,000,000. Didi said the district has prepared informational materials — mailers, door hangers, handouts and a website linked via QR codes — and will host a post‑mailing Q&A session at Belgrade High School after ballots go out.
Trustees and campaign organizers described community outreach that has already included booths at local events, radio outreach and meetings with civic groups. One presenter said the current bond proposal is a scaled‑back alternative to an earlier roughly $60.5 million plan and focuses on bringing fifth graders back to elementary schools by building a smaller elementary facility.
On tax impact, trustees provided an example calculation: for a $600,000 home the first‑year change if both the school and a full gym were built would be about $115 annually (the presenter described that as an estimate and said amounts depend on home value and how existing levies phase out).
Board members discussed legal limits on district staff advocacy versus informational activity. Didi said she has previously limited her role to informing, but the board voted to authorize broader outreach in coordination with stakeholders.
Next steps: ballots will be mailed Oct. 17 and election day is Nov. 4; the district said it will continue community outreach and hold public Q&A events to explain the ballot language and answer resident questions.
