Schools address unification questions
By Luke Ulatowski
The Powell County High School (PCHS) and Deer Lodge Elementary (DLE) School District #1 boards reviewed a FAQ pamphlet answering the most popular questions regarding the two districts’ potential unification and set dates for “town hall” sessions across the county at their respective meetings on Sept. 11 and 12.
Superintendent Rick Duncan drafted a FAQ pamphlet based on a 27-page executive summary of responses to the schools’ survey asking for opinions on unification, a “yes or no” vote for which will appear on the November election ballot. A popular point of confusion was the definition of “unification” in the context of the school districts.
“I looked at what were the most common questions that people were trying to identify or have struggled with on unification, and one of them was certainly - and a lot of people talked about - ‘consolidation vs. unification,’” Duncan said. “One respondent actually said, ‘This is not unification. This is consolidation.’”
Duncan’s draft lists the separate legal permissions of district unification and district consolidation according to Montana Code Annotated 2021. A district unification takes place between a county high school district and the elementary school district where the high school is located. A district consolidation takes place between two elementary school districts, two high school districts or two already-unified K-12 districts.
Consolidation of rural school districts in Powell County is not planned, as the draft states. However, PCHS Board Trustee Maureen Mannix, who had voted against putting unification on the ballot, further noted consolidation is possible if all six rural districts vote to do so. Duncan replied that such an event “is not on our agenda, whatsoever.”
Financial questions were also popular, such as what savings would come with unification. According to Duncan, administrative costs would lower, and a combined district would have a “more competitive bidding process” that would reduce vendor contracts.
The budgets of the high school
See Unification page 9
The Powell County High School (PCHS) and Deer Lodge Elementary (DLE) School District #1 boards reviewed a FAQ pamphlet answering the most popular questions regarding the two districts’ potential unification and set dates for “town hall” sessions across the county at their respective meetings on Sept. 11 and 12.
Superintendent Rick Duncan drafted a FAQ pamphlet based on a 27-page executive summary of responses to the schools’ survey asking for opinions on unification, a “yes or no” vote for which will appear on the November election ballot. A popular point of confusion was the definition of “unification” in the context of the school districts.
“I looked at what were the most common questions that people were trying to identify or have struggled with on unification, and one of them was certainly - and a lot of people talked about - ‘consolidation vs. unification,’” Duncan said. “One respondent actually said, ‘This is not unification. This is consolidation.’”
Duncan’s draft lists the separate legal permissions of district unification and district consolidation according to Montana Code Annotated 2021. A district unification takes place between a county high school district and the elementary school district where the high school is located. A district consolidation takes place between two elementary school districts, two high school districts or two already-unified K-12 districts.
Consolidation of rural school districts in Powell County is not planned, as the draft states. However, PCHS Board Trustee Maureen Mannix, who had voted against putting unification on the ballot, further noted consolidation is possible if all six rural districts vote to do so. Duncan replied that such an event “is not on our agenda, whatsoever.”
Financial questions were also popular, such as what savings would come with unification. According to Duncan, administrative costs would lower, and a combined district would have a “more competitive bidding process” that would reduce vendor contracts.
The budgets of the high school
See Unification page 9
Elementary adjusts policies for new lawsBy Luke Ulatowski
Policy changes abound at Deer Lodge Elementary (DLE) School District #1, as the school board adjusted 25 policies to accommodate new state legislation at a meeting on Sept. 12. Regarding bullying, Policy 3310 bars students from using violent force, threats and intimidation. However, House Bill (HB) 450, which legally protects self-defense in schools, was signed into law on April 25. Now, the policy notes violent force is barred “unless such force is determined following an investigation to be in self-defense or defense of others as defined by law.” Superintendent Rick Duncan called the bill “contentious,” having often referred to it as the “punch the bully in the face” bill at school board meetings during Montana’s 68th legislative session. Several of the policy changes were made to comply with House Bill 396, which was signed into law on May See Laws page 9 |
County commits to MSU Extension Agent
MSU Extension Western Region Department Head Dan Lucas addresses the Powell County 4-H Council at a Sept. 13 meeting. Also pictured: Council Secretary Ami Everson, President Melanie Beck, Treasurer Vanessa Johnson and member Courtney Rasely. Photo by Luke Ulatowski
By Luke Ulatowski
The Powell County Commissioners committed on Monday to a one-year trial run with a Montana State University (MSU) Extension Agent specializing in community development who will also take on 4-H duties, despite indicating to the Powell County 4-H Council they intended to pull out of their agreement with MSU Extension last week. The City of Deer Lodge pulled out of its deal with the county to pay for a community development agent’s first five years after MSU Extension Director Cody Stone stated any extension agent in a county without a 4-H-specific agent would be expected to take on 4-H responsibilities, contradicting an earlier statement by MSU Extension Western Region Department Head Dan Lucas. On Monday, the commissioners announced before a crowd of over two dozen people at the Powell County Community Center that the county will instead fund the position for one year, then seek grants to fund the position and attempt to renegotiate with the city, should they choose to keep the position. The decision was the result of a closed meeting with Lucas and Montana 4-H Center Director Todd Kesner. While the new agent will take on 4-H responsibilities, he or she will not be a 4-H extension agent in title. The decision was a major shift for the commissioners. Former Powell County MSU Extension Agent Bo Walker attended a 4-H Council meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 13 to speak on behalf of the commissioners, announcing their intent to pull out. He resigned from his position with MSU Extension the prior day. According to him, MSU had him under a gag order that would have prevented him from discussing the county’s plans at the meeting had he not resigned. Now, he serves the county as Acting Natural Resources Director, a position that had been long discussed by the commission, but was only introduced last week. The county is searching for someone to fill the position full-time. On Thursday, Powell County Commissioner Ruth Koehler confirmed she and the other commissioners - Dan Sager and Rem Mannix - agreed to have Walker represent the commission at the meeting and verified his statements. Both Koehler and Walker shared the same series of events leading up to the Sept. 13 4-H Council meeting: The week prior, Lucas informed the commissioners the county could pursue a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Granite County or Deer See Extension page 6 |
Planning board hears proposal for Ovando cell tower
By Jean Pocha
At the Powell County Planning Board public meeting Sept. 7, Bridger Tower Corporation’s (Bridger) Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application for placing a cell phone tower approximately 4.2 miles west of Ovando on the north side of Highway 200 was discussed. The Permit was approved with one nay.
The permit is for a 195-foot tall cell tower supported with three sets of guy wires. The height is 30 feet taller than Big Gus, the largest western larch tree, located near Seeley Lake.
All resources have been exhausted in finding an existing Wireless Telecommunications facility (WFC) to satisfy coverage objectives by the carrier, said Bridger in the application. The site was chosen for its proximity to the weakest cell coverage in the area, while including Ovando in the service coverage area.
“We negotiated for several months with the landowners of Monture Hill, south of Highway 200,” Jason Evans, Verizon Site Acquisition specialist, said. “It’s a higher spot and might reach more homes, but the landowners were not interested.”
In early spring of 2023 Bridger Tower contacted Bonnie Gilbert about tower installation on her property on the north side of Highway 200.
”My mother was trapped in this area under a four-wheeler
See Tower page 10
At the Powell County Planning Board public meeting Sept. 7, Bridger Tower Corporation’s (Bridger) Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application for placing a cell phone tower approximately 4.2 miles west of Ovando on the north side of Highway 200 was discussed. The Permit was approved with one nay.
The permit is for a 195-foot tall cell tower supported with three sets of guy wires. The height is 30 feet taller than Big Gus, the largest western larch tree, located near Seeley Lake.
All resources have been exhausted in finding an existing Wireless Telecommunications facility (WFC) to satisfy coverage objectives by the carrier, said Bridger in the application. The site was chosen for its proximity to the weakest cell coverage in the area, while including Ovando in the service coverage area.
“We negotiated for several months with the landowners of Monture Hill, south of Highway 200,” Jason Evans, Verizon Site Acquisition specialist, said. “It’s a higher spot and might reach more homes, but the landowners were not interested.”
In early spring of 2023 Bridger Tower contacted Bonnie Gilbert about tower installation on her property on the north side of Highway 200.
”My mother was trapped in this area under a four-wheeler
See Tower page 10
