The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

According to usafacts.org from an article called “Teachers in the US face low pay relative to their level of education, which was published on November 11, 2022, “the average teacher makes less than the average full-time earner in every state except Hawaii. In Montana, teachers make 80% of the average wage; Wyoming 92%, Washington 88%, North Dakota 85%, and Idaho is also 80%.”

According to the same article, teachers work an average of 50 hours a week teaching and $300 of their personal money on classroom supplies.

Also, finding teachers to teach in the Montana school has become a crisis situation. Although rural schools have known this for several years, even the larger school are now admitting they are finding it difficult to find teachers.

This year would be a good year for the legislature to give more money to fund schools as they have money most want to return to the taxpayer. ‘

According to MTSBA )Montana School Boards Association) “funding in Montana Schools is 12.4% from Federal Sources. We are 5th in the nation. The National average funding from federal sources is 7.5%—the state of Montana funds Montana schools by 42.9%, 33rd in the nation. The national average for funding from state sources is 47%. In Montana, schools local sources fund 44.7%, 25th in the nation. The National average funding from local sources is 45.5%.”

“Montana spends $12,101 per pupil in current expenditures. North Dakota spends $14,242 per pupil. ($333 million more per year than in Montana). Washington spends $14,556 per pupil ($381 million more per year than in Montana). Wyoming spends $116,698 per pupil (715 million more per year than in Montana).”

It is important to follow what is going on at the legislature. Please write or call your representative and let them know what needs to be done.

Senate Education Committee Salomon, Daniel (R) - Chair Tempel, Russ (R) - Vice Chair McClafferty, Edie (D) - Vice Chair Emrich, Daniel (R) Fitzpatrick, Steve (R) Fuller, John (R) Hertz, Greg (R) O’Brien, Shannon (D) Olsen, Andrea (D) Regier, Keith (R) Webber, Susan (D)

Secretary: Lynnette Sena, Rm 65, 444-4816 Staff: Pad McCracken, Rm 111A, 444-595

House Education Committee Anderson, Fred (R) -Chair, Reksten, Linda (R) - Vice Chair Running Wolf, Tyson (D) -Vice Chair Bergstrom, James (R), Bertoglio, Marta (R), Deming, Lee (R), Essmann, Sherry (R) Ler, Brandon (R), Matthews, Eric (D), Mitchell, Braxton (R), Romano, Melissa (D), Seekins-Crowe, Kerri (R) Thane, and Mark (D)

Clerk: Rose Harmon, Rm 451, 444-4847 Staff: Laura Sankey-Keip, Rm 128, 444-4410

Current House Bills: HB 117 - The bill passed on Second Reading by a vote of 81-18. HB 117 is a bill regarding working retirees under TRS that increases flexibility for schools relying on working retirees to meet the needs of students. The bill increases allowable compensation for a working retiree from 33% of the former salary to 49%. The bill also strikes an exclusion in current law that has previously prevented school districts from using superintendents as working retirees to the same extent as teachers who are working retirees. Finally, the bill reduces the number of days after retirement until an employee can return to a school’s employment.; HB 21 -This bill would require that an economic impact statement associated with the consideration of accreditation standards must include an analysis of the ability of school districts to implement the standard within existing resources, including time. A change in accreditation standards requiring additional resources would be needed to be requested within the budget request of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. HB 22 -This bill eliminates the bifurcation of the revenue to the Board of Public Education and Certification Standards and Practices Advisory Council. HB 2 - Support - HB 2 is the budget bill and includes funding for K-12 education. During this hearing, Rep. Llew Jones will present language which aims to earmark revenues from the 95 mills appropriately and ensure that the 95 mills are transparently devoted to school funding. HB 203 - HB 203 (LC 732) is a bill regarding open school enrollment. HB 214 -This bill revises the terminology to include remote instruction in the educational instruction under the ANB definition, further clarifies “off-site instructional setting,” and defines “remote instruction” as “pupil instruction that occurs through virtual learning processes seven incorporating distance and online learning methods that best prepare pupils to meet desired learning outcomes 8 as authorized in 20-7-118.” The bill also allowed remote instruction is mandatory if the district of residence does not offer a course with identical advantages. HB 126 - Monitor - HB 126 extends the availability of tax-advantaged bonds to private, parochial K-12 schools. HB 206 - HB 206 revises mill levy laws, including durational limits that would impact some school levies, including safety levies, and creates voter turnout requirements. HB 129 amends the compulsory attendance to apply to any child who is enrolled in school, rather than the current language that states a child who is “7 years of age or older.”

Senate Floor SB 69 - SB 69 is designed to clarify school transportation laws regarding passenger vehicles. We sought clarification from the Office of Public Instruction to ensure against any misunderstanding regarding the bill’s intent. Specifically, we wanted to confirm a mutual understanding among the Legislature, OPI, and our members that the specific passenger vehicles that are included in the definition of “school bus” in section 20-10-101 are not impacted by the changes proposed in Senate Bill 69 and would remain depreciable along with other vehicles meeting the definition of “school bus.” SJ 4 - 4 would initiate an interim study of the PERS-defined benefit plan and TRS, as well as issuing recommendations for a long-term strategic approach to fund the systems. MASBO spoke on behalf of the Coalition. SB 8 - Support - This bill defines “proficiency-based learning” as “an education system in which student progress is based 26 on a student’s demonstration of knowledge and skills, not seat time or the age or grade level of the student.”