Belgrade pilots photonics training and outlines 1‑to‑1 device plan; trustees press on cost and equity

Belgrade School District leaders told the board they are piloting an electro‑optics technician training program with industry partners and are planning a districtwide technology configuration that could move many grades toward 1:1 Chromebooks.

Director of Student Achievement Matt said Belgrade High was the only Montana high school selected for the pilot with Montana Photonics and Quantum Alliance and that students completed a condensed industry training led by Phil Diesel of Lumibird Technology and hosted by teacher Eric Kinnaman. "Over two weeks, students mastered proficiencies in optics and photonics… and earned an industry‑recognized digital badge," Matt said, adding that the training opens options for students to enter the workforce or pursue further study at Gallatin College or Montana State.

Matt and Superintendent Didi then presented a draft technology plan focused on curriculum, instruction and assessment, including keyboarding instruction, increased online assessment readiness and a proposed device distribution plan: 1:1 Chromebooks through grade 8, with case‑by‑case Windows or higher‑power machines for some high‑school courses. Administrators said kindergarten currently uses iPads, second grade might be 2:1, and the district aims to prioritize teachers' instructional needs when setting device ratios.

Trustee questions centered on cost, inventory and equity. Trustees asked how many devices the district currently owns, how close the district is to proposed ratios and how the district would fund refresh cycles. District staff said they are gathering inventory data and that a tech levy could be considered if the board ties device ratios to student outcome metrics. "Step 1, decide what we need. Step 2, figure out if we have it and buy it if we don't. Step 3, figure out how we're going to deal with the refresh cycle," Didi said.

The presentation included enforcement data for a newly implemented high‑school cell‑phone policy (146 violations to date, 25 repeat offenders). Trustees asked for additional disaggregated assessment data and suggested a board work session on funding and levy timing before committing to a specific device rollout.

Next steps: staff will complete the device inventory, estimate refresh costs, and return to the board with more precise budget estimates and proposed ties between device access and student achievement.