Governor signs off raise for prison COs
By Luke Ulatowski
Governor Greg Gianforte signed House Bill (HB) 3 at Montana State Prison (MSP) on March 15, providing correctional officers with a $2 hourly raise.
Introduced by Representative Llew Jones (R-Conrad) on Dec. 12 prior to the convening of the 68th Montana state legislature, the bill appropriates funds for the “necessary and ordinary expenditures” of various state agencies for the current fiscal year. This includes a $1,861,056 general fund for the public safety division of Montana Department of Corrections (DOC). It passed its third reading in the House on Feb. 9 and the Senate on Feb. 28.
According to Gianforte, the fund is meant to raise the pay of correctional officers at MSP by $2, as well as raise the pay of correctional officers at Montana Women’s Prison and Pine Hills Correctional Facility by $3.
The raise is separate from that proposed by HB 13, the state pay plan bill. Introduced by Representative John Fitzpatrick (R-Anaconda) and endorsed by Gianforte, the bill would generally raise state employee wages by $1.50 in Fiscal Year 2024 and another $1.50 in Fiscal Year 2025, along with a $0.50-per-hour bonus at the end of Fiscal Year 2023. HB 13 passed the House on Feb. 10.
HB 2, introduced by Jones, would allocate an additional $245,185,277 to DOC for the biennium ending June 30, 2025. It passed the Appropriations Committee on March 16.
According to the governor’s office, HB 3, HB 13 and HB 2 together would raise the starting pay of correctional officers by over 45% since the start of 2022, when that pay was $16.46 per hour. According to DOC Communications Director Carolynn Bright,
See Raise page 8
Governor Greg Gianforte signed House Bill (HB) 3 at Montana State Prison (MSP) on March 15, providing correctional officers with a $2 hourly raise.
Introduced by Representative Llew Jones (R-Conrad) on Dec. 12 prior to the convening of the 68th Montana state legislature, the bill appropriates funds for the “necessary and ordinary expenditures” of various state agencies for the current fiscal year. This includes a $1,861,056 general fund for the public safety division of Montana Department of Corrections (DOC). It passed its third reading in the House on Feb. 9 and the Senate on Feb. 28.
According to Gianforte, the fund is meant to raise the pay of correctional officers at MSP by $2, as well as raise the pay of correctional officers at Montana Women’s Prison and Pine Hills Correctional Facility by $3.
The raise is separate from that proposed by HB 13, the state pay plan bill. Introduced by Representative John Fitzpatrick (R-Anaconda) and endorsed by Gianforte, the bill would generally raise state employee wages by $1.50 in Fiscal Year 2024 and another $1.50 in Fiscal Year 2025, along with a $0.50-per-hour bonus at the end of Fiscal Year 2023. HB 13 passed the House on Feb. 10.
HB 2, introduced by Jones, would allocate an additional $245,185,277 to DOC for the biennium ending June 30, 2025. It passed the Appropriations Committee on March 16.
According to the governor’s office, HB 3, HB 13 and HB 2 together would raise the starting pay of correctional officers by over 45% since the start of 2022, when that pay was $16.46 per hour. According to DOC Communications Director Carolynn Bright,
See Raise page 8
HS seniors kickstart park redoBy Luke Ulatowski
Powell County High School (PCHS) seniors Ashton Bledsoe, Skyla Pierson and Tyrel Smith kickstarted a project to save Cottonwood Creek Park from invasive species and preserve it for the education of future students. The two-acre Cottonwood Creek Park lies behind the PCHS agricultural education building. Pierson believes most Deer Lodge residents view it as a dog park with walking trails despite Superintendent Rick Duncan’s intention to use it as an outdoor learning center for the school. She, Bledsoe and Smith used their final project in a Winter 2022 field ecology class led by PCHS science teacher Jace Haynes to propose how to return the park to its “natural state.” Haynes was brought before the school board for a required annual science department update on Jan. 13. He brought Bledsoe, Pierson and Smith along to give their presentation as an example of proficiency in the program. See Park page 2 New sports coming to junior highBy Luke Ulatowski
Two new sports - wrestling and cross country running - will come to E.F. Duvall Jr. High, as decided at a Deer Lodge Elementary School District #1 board meeting on March 14. Superintendent Rick Duncan initially suggested bringing wrestling to the school at a board meeting on Nov. 8. He stated kids were being “lost” between Little Guy Wrestling - a sports league for children from 4 to 14 See Sports page 2 |
Parading on St. Patrick’s . . .
A Tullamore D.E.W. float passes through the Powell County Chamber of Commerce’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade across Main Street on Friday, March 17. Photo by Luke Ulatowski
PCHS teachers rally against policy changeBy Luke Ulatowski
The Powell County High School (PCHS) board resolved to form a curriculum review committee at a meeting on March 13 amidst continued discussion of critical race theory (CRT) in class materials as several teachers pushed back against a proposed policy amendment that would have banned the topic from being taught. Board member Bart Smith initially proposed banning all curriculum that includes “‘CRT’ (Critical Race Theory), ‘CT’ (Critical Theory), ‘DEI’ (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion), the 1619 Project, or anything else teaching the same content under a different or non-existent title” and requiring the board to review all curriculum related to politics, race or gender at the prior board meeting on Feb. 13. Smith’s proposal came in response to concerns from parent Allie Ross about a worksheet her son received in a senior-level English class. It asked students to argue from several ideological perspectives including Marxism and cited a textbook called “Critical Theory Today” by Lois Tyson. The board considered adding Smith’s proposal to Policy 2120, which currently enforces the thorough review of all “significant changes” to curriculum by the school board. It was added to the March 13 meeting agenda, and Superintendent Rick Duncan stated he would seek legal counsel on the topic prior to that date. At the meeting, Duncan presented a four-point outline of a legal review of Smith’s proposed amendment. It suggested that, in the amendment, “the language should be clarified,” public policy and constitutional provisions involving academic freedom should be cross-referenced and Policy 3220, which enforces “Equal Educational Opportunity, Nondiscrimination, and Sex Equity” at the school, must receive mention. The last point suggested the amendment should respect See Rally page 8 |
Art Show’s featured artists share inspirations
By Luke Ulatowski
The 2023 Francis Denton Memorial Art Show opens Wednesday, March 29, and the four featured artists provided insights into their methods, styles and artistic mediums.
Two painters who are members of the Deer Lodge Art Club, Johanna Rase and JoAnne Welch, will demonstrate the scope of paintings’ possibilities with their contrasting works.
Rase has been a member of the Art Club for 20 years. She has painted “on and off” for most of her life, having been inspired by her father’s paintings while growing up in Vermont. In 1984, she moved to Deer Lodge, where she has served as a reading teacher and language advisor at local elementary schools.
Focused on sights from the great outdoors, Rase’ art style illustrates mountains and rivers with bright, smooth shapes. She primarily paints with acrylics, which she calls “fantastic colors.”
“I love big, colorful, full-of-life work,” she said. “As a teacher for many years here in Deer Lodge, the best fun with kids was our art time together in the classroom.”
Welch aims for realism in her landscapes, which focus on both nature and man-made establishments. She uses oils and watercolors.
“My style is realistic so that people can identify where the spot is that I painted
See Art page 8
The 2023 Francis Denton Memorial Art Show opens Wednesday, March 29, and the four featured artists provided insights into their methods, styles and artistic mediums.
Two painters who are members of the Deer Lodge Art Club, Johanna Rase and JoAnne Welch, will demonstrate the scope of paintings’ possibilities with their contrasting works.
Rase has been a member of the Art Club for 20 years. She has painted “on and off” for most of her life, having been inspired by her father’s paintings while growing up in Vermont. In 1984, she moved to Deer Lodge, where she has served as a reading teacher and language advisor at local elementary schools.
Focused on sights from the great outdoors, Rase’ art style illustrates mountains and rivers with bright, smooth shapes. She primarily paints with acrylics, which she calls “fantastic colors.”
“I love big, colorful, full-of-life work,” she said. “As a teacher for many years here in Deer Lodge, the best fun with kids was our art time together in the classroom.”
Welch aims for realism in her landscapes, which focus on both nature and man-made establishments. She uses oils and watercolors.
“My style is realistic so that people can identify where the spot is that I painted
See Art page 8
