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A community’s investment in its local schools extends far beyond individual families with children. Great schools serve as the cornerstones of thriving communities.

Economic Impact: High-quality schools contribute to a thriving local economy. Well-educated students become skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and professionals who drive economic growth. Businesses often consider the quality of local schools when deciding where to establish themselves.

Future Workforce: Even if you don’t have children, you’ll eventually interact with the next generation. These students will become doctors, police officers, artists, and neighbors. A well-educated workforce benefits everyone by ensuring competent professionals and a skilled labor pool.

Community Cohesion: Schools serve as community hubs. They host events, sports games, performances, and meetings. When schools thrive, they foster a sense of belonging and pride. Residents, whether parents or not, benefit from a vibrant community with engaged citizens.

Long-Term Vision: Communities should think beyond the present. Investing in education ensures a brighter future. When schools receive adequate funding and support, they prepare students to tackle global challenges, innovate, and contribute positively to society.

Caring about local schools isn’t just about individual families—it’s about creating a thriving, interconnected community that benefits everyone.

New construction does not provide school infrastructure impact fees like it has to for other utilities and services. This is something the school has no control over and is a legislative issue. Public schools in Montana are forced to rely on levied mills for complete funding needed to properly fund the schools. Any additional funding needs of school districts beyond the 80% base minimum funding established by the State, require approval of maintenance and operations levies by district voters to provide these funding needs. Levy dollars make up the difference between what the state of Montana provides and what it actually costs to properly prepare our students for success.

The Technology Levy will be used to provide funding for:

1. Annual software fees for unfunded mandated state testing of all students and repair/replacement of computers needed for state tests. 

2. Annual cybersecurity tools and equipment/personnel to protect student data and privacy. 

3. Annual IT support contracts and technical components to maintain instructional devices required for student learning and high school preparation.

As mandated by the state, West Valley School District conducts benchmark testing three times a year and administers standardized tests annually. However, there’s a significant hurdle: the lack of funding for a benchmark testing platform.

Unlike the past, when paper-and-pencil assessments sufficed, today’s testing landscape is exclusively computer based. Unfortunately, West Valley receives no financial support to provide the necessary devices for students to complete these assessments.

Consider the scale: with over 750 students, a substantial number of devices are essential to ensure timely and efficient testing. Without adequate funding, meeting these requirements becomes a challenge.

Let’s bridge this gap and empower our students with the tools they need for successful testing in the digital age.

The threat of cyber attacks targeting schools is escalating rapidly. In the past year alone, ransomware attacks against schools surged by 827%. Over the last eight years, there have been 1,619 reported K-12 cyber incidents, putting family and student personally identifiable data at risk.

Consider this alarming trend: in 2021, schools ranked as the third most targeted industry for malware attacks. However, the situation worsened in 2022, with schools topping the list as the number one industry hit by malware.

Despite these risks, cybersecurity tools and staff to safeguard student and staff data are not funded by the state. This critical area demands immediate attention. We can protect student and family data with passage of the Technology Levy.

In our increasingly digital and technology-driven world, digital skills have become essential. A 2023 report, titled “Closing the Digital Skill Divide,” sheds light on this trend. It reveals that 48% of job postings in Montana specifically require industry-specific digital expertise, while a whopping 88% of job postings seek candidates with basic digital proficiencies—think email, word processing, and other fundamental skills.

As educators at West Valley, we bear the responsibility of ensuring our students are well-prepared for success in the workforce. To achieve this, we prioritize teaching basic digital skills. These foundational abilities empower our students to navigate the digital world confidently.

However, access is key. To accomplish our mission, students must have continued access to devices and learning programs. By equipping them with these tools, we pave the way for their high school journey and future achievements.

Let’s bridge the digital divide and empower our students for a bright, tech-savvy future!

West Valley is seeking a $83,000 Technology levy. Passage of this proposal will increase annual taxes on assessed home values per year for 10 years by approximately:

The General Fund Levy will be used to provide funding for:

1. Maintaining effective student/teacher ratios through retaining classroom teaching positions.

2. Providing support staff to assist struggling learners and help prepare students academically for high school and the workforce.

3. Repairing/replacing failing heating units, HVAC controls, and aging facilities to ensure student safety.

Smaller class sizes yield significant benefits for students, educators, and the overall school environment. Let’s explore how:

Improved Learning: When class sizes are smaller, teachers can provide individualized attention to each student. This personalized approach enhances understanding, engagement, and academic progress. Furthermore, due to previous required reduction in staff for the 2023-24 school year, certain middle school course subjects have had to be combined, resulting in less time devoted to each important subject.

Enhanced Safety: A lower student-to-staff ratio contributes to a safer school environment. Staff members can closely monitor students during critical times such as recess and lunch. However, West Valley faces challenges due to recent budget cuts. Maintaining the required 50:1 student-to-staff ratio during outside and lunch monitoring is crucial but difficult with recent reduction in staff. Currently, staff are often redirected from other essential areas like counselors, administrators, and classroom aides, to ensure we meet this required ratio.

Budget Constraints: West Valley School District has already made tough decisions, cutting $250,000 of expenses from the budget. Unfortunately, this has led to an increase in class sizes as four staff positions have not been filled. To address this issue, we propose a General Fund levy. By passing this levy, West Valley can allocate resources to reduce class sizes. Smaller classes mean more effective teaching and better student outcomes. Should the levy not pass, several additional teaching positions will be lost.

Let’s prioritize our students’ well-being and create an optimal learning environment through retaining important staff positions.

Student aides play a crucial role in addressing COVID-related learning loss. They provide targeted assistance to students, ensuring that gaps in learning are bridged. Additionally, support staff help struggling learners succeed academically. Their guidance prepares students not only for high school but also for future endeavors in the workforce. Small group learning for struggling students has significantly decreased over the past school year due to budget limitations resulting in lost support staff positions.

However, it’s essential to recognize that small groups—which facilitate personalized attention—are only feasible with the presence of dedicated support staff. Without their assistance, maintaining effective small-group instruction becomes challenging.

Our current heating system is showing signs of distress. In this winter alone, it has failed eight (8) times, leaving students and staff shivering in chilly classrooms. As the large building struggles to regain warmth, some classrooms have experienced temperatures as low as 57°F during the winter.

Unfortunately, the cost of replacing the system far exceeds our available building funds. We face a critical challenge: how to maintain a comfortable learning environment without compromising other essential needs.

West Valley is seeking a $347,000 General Fund levy. Passage of this proposal will increase annual taxes on assessed home values by approximately:

The Technology Levy aims to cover software fees for state testing, repair or replacement of computers needed for these tests, cybersecurity tools, and IT support contracts to protect student and family data. The General Fund Levy will maintain student-to-teacher ratios, support struggling learners, and address facility repairs. Unlike bonds, which will only fund new construction, these levies focus on day to day cost of running a school.  A levy is for learning, while a bond is for building. This levy will help West Valley keep up with a high standard of learning.

• Please refer to this Montana Office of Public Instruction's document on school finance and school budgets.

• The news article, "How Montana Pays for its Public Schools, in Pictures" can be found here.

• For Flathead County Superintendent of Schools Statistical Report of School for 2022, please click here.

Messaging on this page is from the West Valley School Board.