Tune upBefore Marik Chrisman used a ukulele as a prop for a picture at the 2019 Powell County High School Prom on Saturday night, he took the time to tune up the instrument. The prom was held in the gymnasium with many attending. See photos pages 10 and 11.
|
|
High school will not ask for levy vote
by Michael Stafford
For the first time in about 13 years the Powell County High School District will not be asking voters for a mill levy this May.
That means that voters will not be asked if they are willing to cover a shortfall in the district’s budget and if all things remain generally the same at the legislature moves forward, they could potentially see a decrease as last year’s levy has expired.
“I’m pleased to say we’re not going to be running a levy this year,” said Superintendent Rick Duncan.
He delivered the news about it to the board of trustees at the March 11 board meeting and spoke with the Silver State Post about how it came about that no levy will be needed this year.
In the legislature, House Bill 159 passed both the senate and the house and was signed by Governor Steve Bullock. That bill was the major funding measure for education in Montana. With its passage early in the legislature, districts across the state were provided with their budget numbers for the coming year in a much more timely fashion. Typically in years that the legislature is in session those numbers aren’t available for weeks yet.
“We’re extremely happy with both houses of the legislature and the governor signing it in a timely manner,” said Duncan.
The budget numbers for PCHS show that for next fiscal year the shortfall from last year’s budget (which included a voter approved $92,000 levy) is only $5,846, the maximum amount the school could run as a levy. The cost of an election is around $5,500 so the district will not be holding a levy election.
Duncan explained that the budget for the school has remained pretty much flat for the past 10 years and will be the same in the coming year. Any levy elections in previous years have been due to gaps or decreases in funding through the legislature and have been only to keep the budget at that flat amount without increase.
The superintendent said that the voters and taxpayers have been very supportive in approving the levies that the school asks for, and he is very grateful for that. Since the 1970s, there was only one levy that failed to pass, however earlier the voters had approved a technology levy and a building fund levy, providing a reason why they may have declined it that year.
Last year voters approved a $92,000 levy to fund the budget gap which resulted in a tax of $13.72 on a home valued at $200,000. Each budget levy is only for that fiscal year, so later this year when the new tax bills are sent out that levy amount will be removed. With no levy being asked for this year by the district, voters won’t have to decide whether they approve it or not and no additional levy amount will be added to the tax bills.
see ANB page 13
For the first time in about 13 years the Powell County High School District will not be asking voters for a mill levy this May.
That means that voters will not be asked if they are willing to cover a shortfall in the district’s budget and if all things remain generally the same at the legislature moves forward, they could potentially see a decrease as last year’s levy has expired.
“I’m pleased to say we’re not going to be running a levy this year,” said Superintendent Rick Duncan.
He delivered the news about it to the board of trustees at the March 11 board meeting and spoke with the Silver State Post about how it came about that no levy will be needed this year.
In the legislature, House Bill 159 passed both the senate and the house and was signed by Governor Steve Bullock. That bill was the major funding measure for education in Montana. With its passage early in the legislature, districts across the state were provided with their budget numbers for the coming year in a much more timely fashion. Typically in years that the legislature is in session those numbers aren’t available for weeks yet.
“We’re extremely happy with both houses of the legislature and the governor signing it in a timely manner,” said Duncan.
The budget numbers for PCHS show that for next fiscal year the shortfall from last year’s budget (which included a voter approved $92,000 levy) is only $5,846, the maximum amount the school could run as a levy. The cost of an election is around $5,500 so the district will not be holding a levy election.
Duncan explained that the budget for the school has remained pretty much flat for the past 10 years and will be the same in the coming year. Any levy elections in previous years have been due to gaps or decreases in funding through the legislature and have been only to keep the budget at that flat amount without increase.
The superintendent said that the voters and taxpayers have been very supportive in approving the levies that the school asks for, and he is very grateful for that. Since the 1970s, there was only one levy that failed to pass, however earlier the voters had approved a technology levy and a building fund levy, providing a reason why they may have declined it that year.
Last year voters approved a $92,000 levy to fund the budget gap which resulted in a tax of $13.72 on a home valued at $200,000. Each budget levy is only for that fiscal year, so later this year when the new tax bills are sent out that levy amount will be removed. With no levy being asked for this year by the district, voters won’t have to decide whether they approve it or not and no additional levy amount will be added to the tax bills.
see ANB page 13
Many in favor of block schedulingby Michael Stafford
Powell County High School will be going back to block scheduling next school year. After hearing comments from staff and students in favor of the longer approximately 90 minute periods rather than the current 51 or 52 minute periods, the board of trustees voted to make the change and allow administrators and staff to begin working on scheduling for the coming year. “I think it makes teachers a lot happier,” said teacher Pat Bannon. “It helps so much with labs, especially with college prep courses,” said teacher Pat Liedes. Students told the board they want the block scheduling also. “I would definitely like more time in my classes,” said Morgan Stevenson. Block scheduling had been used by the school for a number of years starting around 1998. A few years ago at the request of staff, the board took a look at returning to a more traditional style schedule with seven periods in the day. At the previous board meeting, Superintendent Rick Duncan said that staff were asking if the school could go back to block scheduling. see School page eight |
A new face at local office
by Michael Stafford
For Matt King, State Farm Insurance has been a part of his family all through his life. Not only has his father been an agent for the company for coming up on 25 years, but many other relatives have also worked for State Farm. So going into the business was a natural choice for him. “For me, State Farm was kind of how I was raised,” he said. King has recently become the new State Farm agent in Deer Lodge, taking over the business which Karen Flynn has had here for 35 years. The transition started last year and on January 1 this year, it was official. Since then all whom King has met in the community have been more than welcoming. King was raised in Anaconda and graduated from the high school there in 2010. He studied business and information technology management at Montana Tech and graduated with a degree in that field in 2013. see Agent page 13 |
More on this and the other issues grabbing this week's headlines
can be found in our print edition, out every Wednesday.
can be found in our print edition, out every Wednesday.
We are archiving our history at Small Town Papers.
Search through past issues back to 2003.
Search through past issues back to 2003.
Silver State Post • 312 Missouri Avenue, Deer Lodge, MT 59722 • 406-846-2424
