GFEA
  • Home
  • Resources
  • Action
  • Our Members
  • Leadership
  • Contact

GFPS levy campaign kicks off 63 days before election day

3/4/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Students from Great Falls Public Schools hold up signs urging support of public schools during a rally for the Great Falls Public Schools' 2020 operational levy that will be on the ballot in May. Photos: RION SANDERS GREAT FALLS TRIBUNE
Picture
Turner Burchard, student body president at Great Falls High School, calls for action during the rally to kickoff the Great Falls Public Schools' 2020 operational levy campaign, Wednesday afternoon at Spring Hill Suites.
Picture
Tom Moore, superintendent of Great Falls Public Schools, talks to Lynette Scriver-Colburn during a kickoff rally, at the Spring Hill Suites on Wednesday, for the 2020 GFPS operational levy that will be on the ballot in May.
Picture
SKYLAR RISPENS
Great Falls Tribune
   It was standing room only as community members gathered to to attend a rally in support of school funding for the upcoming school levy election at a Spring Hill Suites conference room on Wednesday afternoon. 
Administrators, school board members, students and parents took turns to share testimony about why they believe Great Falls Public Schools deserves the community's support in the levy election that is slated for May 5. 
"About five hours from now and 63 days we will be announcing the celebration of the new era of Great Falls Public Schools," said GFPS School Board Chairman Jan Cahill to kick off the event. 
   Over the last decade, the school district has experienced nearly $10 million in budget cuts which has resulted in the loss of over 100 educators. According to the speakers, the impact of those losses can be felt in district classrooms and beyond. 
   "There is an absolute link to the business climate in our community, a strong business climate in our community, and a strong school system in our community," said Brion Torgerson, a local parent and business owner. "Strong schools equals strong business and you cannot reverse that order."
   Voters will be tasked to make the final decision on the $1.3 million elementary levy, which is estimated to have a $12.40 tax impact annually on a $100,000 home. 
   Funding for public schools is a complex equation, but it boils down to 80 percent of the district's funds are supported by the state, while the remaining 20 percent falls on local participation. Right now, local participation is supporting 17.3 percent of the elementary district's funding, the $1.3 million levy amount would bring fund the maximum budget allowed for the district.
   "What I'm here to say to you today is they deserve not 80 percent, not 70 percent, not 90 percent. They deserve 100 percent of our support," said GFPS Superintendent Tom Moore. "So this levy is about getting to that elementary levy cap and supporting our students and our teachers in this school district to 100 percent, and when we've gotten there, then we can say we've done our part.So let's get it done."
   In 2016, voters handily approved the high school and elementary district bonds totaling nearly $100 million for facility improvements. The difference between a bond and a levy is that money for a bond is allocated for school buildings such as new facilities or modernizing older ones. On the other hand, levy funds support programs, teachers and other operational parts of a school.
   Or more simply put, bonds are for buildings, levies are for learning.
   Shane Etzwiler, president of the Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, told community members at the rally that the chamber voted in full support of the operational levy last week. "Strong schools go right hand in hand with strong businesses in our community," said Etzwiler.    The levy support event was hosted by Kids' Education Yes!, a community led, non-partisan political action group that has been in Great Falls since the mid 1990s. The group is running a campaign in support of the levy by educating community members about how the levy may begin to alleviate the challenges the district is facing after a decade of budget shortfalls. 
   "I've spent a lot of time with many of you in this room talking about the cuts, and the heartache and the loss and what are we going to do," said Jamie Marshall, the chair of KEY! "Today, I am really excited to stand in front of this phenomenal group and say we have the next 63 days to make this look different."
More: GFPS school board unanimously agrees to send levy to voters in May

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    2021 Legislative Issues
    GFEA-GFPS CBA
    2020-2021 MOA Covid-19
    2020-2021 GFEA Calendar
    GFEA Constitution
    GFEA Bylaws
    GFEA Policies
    Issue Form
    MFPE

    Archives

    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    July 2018
    May 2018
    February 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    March 2015

    UPCOMING 
    ​EVENTS

    Picture
       The corona virus has definitely created a novel reality.  If you check our our website, you will find links to resources for remote learning, and, of course, there is a plethora of information on the website  FaceBook has  great interest groups, too.  
     
    Updates by Topic: 
    ​

    Youth Art Month
       The MAEA Annual Youth Art Month (YAM) Exhibit at the state capital is sort of on semi-permanent display.  With stay at home orders, it may be there awhile. Victor Daniels, the YAM chair, will keep us posted, but in the interim, please visit our YAM webpage to virtually enjoy the works on display.  Thanks, Victor, for posting the works for us to enjoy from home. 
     
    MAEA Spring Retreat
       As you have probably guessed by now, the annual spring retreat has been cancelled/postponed. We will see what the future holds. 
       If member interest and Nicholas Danielson's availability align, MAEA will try to reschedule when the situation becomes safe for gathering again. The worst case scenario-we will seek out a Bray experience in spring 2021.   
     
    MFPE-MAEA 2020
    Teacher
    Conference      Needs YOU!

       Please submit your proposal to present no later than April 30. The conference committee will convene digitally on MAY 15 to schedule submissions.       The next conference is in Great Falls on October 15th & 16, 2020.  It will be hosted at CM Russell High School. 


    2020 Census Invitations Arrive March 12-20
    Ninety-five percent or about 143 million households in the country will receive an initial invitation to respond to the 2020 Census in their mailboxes between March 12 and 20. The U.S. Census Bureau released informational copies today of the invitations, the enclosed materials, and the subsequent reminders households will receive. These materials can help the public know what to expect and avoid potential scams. 
    Read More [lnks.gd]

    Montana
    ​No Kid Hungry

    Picture
       The February winner of the Montana Teachers for Breakfast giveaway has been drawn – check out THIS VIDEO of the live drawing to find out which Montana teacher won the prize! And congratulations again to Randi White from Lockwood for being drawn the January winner!
       The March round is now open, so don’t forget to put your name in the hat on the giveaway website for your chance to win $100 for your classroom: https://mtteachers4breakfast.shortstack.com/XD9Xdd
       Remember that you can enter every month if you’re not drawn a winner, so even if you entered last month be sure to go back and fill out the form again for your name to be counted in the March drawing. The giveaway is open to all Montana teachers who somehow incorporate breakfast into their students’ school day. 



    2020 
    Montana
    Educators' Conference

    Where:  GREAT FALLS
    C.M.RUSSELL HIGH SCHOOL
    When:  OCT. 15-16, 2020             Helping our members succeed in their careers is a top priority for MFPE. That’s why, each year, we sponsor the Educator Conference -- the best professional development of its kind anywhere.
       MFPE teams up with 18 Montana curriculum groups to bring you the best in teacher-led professional learning. More than 500 workshops, keynotes, & institutes are available. No matter what or where you teach. You’ll find a wealth of events perfect for you. And you can earn renewal units!
      To find more information and to submit a proposal to present, please visit the following: 
    https://www.mfpe.org/edconference/

    Fourteenth Indian Education for All Conference

        A May conference will be held for Best Practices in Indian Education for All.  
    Date:  May 3-5, 2020
    ​Location:  Montana State University, Billings
       The theme for the 14th Annual Indian Education for All Best Practices Conference is "Indigenizing Education in Montana".
       We are seeking exciting and well written proposals that emphasize the Montana American Indian perspective across the curriculum. Though a wide variety of proposals in all subject areas will be accepted, special attention will be given to elementary, mathematics, early literacy. 
       Presentation times will be 60-75 minutes in length.
       Presenters will receive free conference registration.

       Be creative! Come share your knowledge with us! 
       If you are interested in being a presenter, please fill out the following call for proposals:  <https://forms.gle/G3t3MEe3GdqWKDos8>.
     
    PRELIMINARY AGENDA
    ​
    <http://opi.mt.gov/Portals/182/Page%20Files/Indian%20Education/Conference_Info/Agenda_Preliminary_BP2020.pdf?ver=2020-01-16-151648-263>

    REGISTER
    for Best Practices Conference
    <https://forms.gle/2vstQs8RVUy1WJ2p9>

    ADVOCACY AWARD NOMINATIONS
    <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSefOls5BsFqwYdVRV-9hawmFQLHSe9Jdj9RGsIR-VGbx5B4vg/viewform>

    Please contact
    for more information:

    Mike Jetty
    Indian Education Specialist
    Montana Office of Public Instruction
    1300 11th Ave
    Helena, MT  59620-2501
    http://opi.mt.gov/Educators/Teaching-Learning/Indian-Education


Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.