MFPE Spring Virtual Meetings start soon!
   All meetings will be held virtually for the safety of all members. 
Be sure to register ahead of time!

   MFPE Spring Virtual Meetings are a great way to learn what’s going on with your union MFPE at the statewide level.
   The meeting will provide a preview of all issues that will be discussed at the 4th MFPE Annual Conference.     
     The Annual Conference is MFPE’s most important gathering. During this year’s Annual Conference, MFPE will elect a statewide officer (NEA Director) as well as board members from half of MFPE’s membership districts.
     Delegates will also adopt a statewide dues and budget.
     Other agenda items for the MFPE Spring Virtual Meetings include an overview of legislation being
considered by 2021 Montana Legislature. and also, important updates about MFPE events and opportunities.
 
     The MFPE Spring Virtual Meetings will be held on March 3, March 10 and March 17.

       All members are encouraged to attend the meeting most convenient for them. 
Click here to register for one of the meetings.

​   The Mansfield Center is honored to host Dr. Anthony Fauci for the 2021 Mansfield Lecture in a conversation and public Q&A, in which we will select four questions in advance to be posed live directly to Dr. Fauci.

To register for the talk and to submit a question, please use this link: 
 https://www.umt.edu/mansfield/events/mansfield-lectures/default.php
 
Please also join us for addition Pandemic Dialogues; registration is live now at this link: 
 https://www.umt.edu/mansfield/events/mansfield-dialogues/default.php

·Disproportionate Impacts on Native Communities: Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, at noon
    The discussions will feature Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Chairwoman Shelly R. Fyant, Fort Peck Tribes Councilwoman Kaci Wallette and We are Montana Founder Cora Neumann.·

Rights and Responsibilities in a Time of COVID: Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, at noon.
   The discussion will feature Anna Conley, Senior Civil Deputy, Missoula County Attorney's Office, Former Montana Supreme Court Justice Jim Nelson, Five on Black Owner Tom Snyder and Montana House of Representatives Majority Leader Sue Vinton.
​   The discussion will be moderated by UM Constitutional Law Professor Anthony Johnstone.

REMINDER:
Applications for Karen Cox Memorial Grants Due Dec. 2, 2020

    Every year, Montana educators raid their own bank accounts to buy classroom supplies and enrichment projects for their students. The Montana Professional Teaching Foundation created the Karen Cox Memorial Grants to help.
   Named for the late Karen Cox, one of Montana’s great teachers, these grants are not intended to replace school funds but rather to support teachers who dig into their own pockets to help their students succeed. The grants are small ($500 maximum) but mighty. In many cases, these funds purchase materials schools can use for years.
   
   To Apply For The Grant
  1.   Download grant application information and application form below. The form is fillable, or applicants can print it and  fill it out.   
   2.  Mail the hard copy of the form to Donna Graveley, MPTF, 1232 E 6th Ave., Helena, MT 59601.

Download grant application

Access grant application from website

  You can still sign up for this year's MFPE Teachers Conference held online!   
Helping 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!

​For the safety of attendees, this year's MFPE Educator Conference will be held virtually. 
You can participate at home and in your slippers if you want to.   
   
   The 2020 Educator Conference kicks off next Thursday, October 15 and runs through the 16th. 
Many sessions and great information presented by fellow teachers and keynote speakers.

   Be sure to register ahead of time.
Sign up no later than Wednesday 10.15.20,
and enroll in as many sessions as you want for one low price.

   Click below to get signed up!  
https://mfpe.eventready.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=reg.page&regid=%7E%2D%7E&page_id=4&event_id=2047&flow=reg&live_view=Yes

MFPE 2020 Educator Conference
   Once you select an Attendee Role you cannot change it.
You may review the role types on the tab Registration Fees.
​If you need to change your attendee role please email jwood@mfpe.org
mfpe.eventready.com

by Skylar Rispens, Great Falls Tribune | Updated 5:42 a.m., May 6, 2020 
    Voters chose in favor of an elementary operational levy, while two incumbents and one newcomer were elected to the Great Falls Public School Board of Trustees, according to unofficial final results Tuesday night.
 
   The $1.75 million elementary levy passed by a vote of 10,795 to 8,863, and incumbents Jan Cahill and Kim Skornogoski were re-elected to the school board. Former city commissioner Bill Bronson earned the third open seat on the board of trustees.

   The levy is expected to have a tax impact of $16.27 annually on a $100,000 home, and $32.50 annually on a $200,000 home.
​
   The school trustee election was among four community members vying for three vacant positions. The three-year terms of current board members Jan Cahill, Kim Skornogoski and Jason Brantley are set to expire this year.
   This story will be updated. 
   
Unofficial final results:

School board trustee (Three elected to three-year term): 
Jan Cahill:  13,372*
Kim Skornogoski:  12,929*
Bill Bronson:  10,750*
Eric Hinebauch:  10,303

Elementary levy:
For:  10,795*
Against:  8,893

 The Board of Trustees conducted a special meeting at noon on Friday, May 1st, and announced that they will not re-open campuses, and distance learning will continue for the remainder of the current school year.

There is no word yet on whether GFPS will host a modified ceremony for seniors; we will update you as we get more information.

During a work session on Monday, GFPS trustees asked health experts about bringing more than 10,000 students, teachers, and staff back into the district's buildings. Trisha Gardner, the health officer of the Cascade City-County Health Department, says she doesn’t think it is a good idea: “I think it opens up a potential floodgate for this to spread very quickly and easily throughout our community.” She also says the main concern is asymptomatic spread. Since children and young adults have been seen with little to no symptoms, it could spread very easily without being detected. During the work session, trustees said that a survey of parents indicated that 71% of the more than 5,000 respondents said they are not in favor of re-opening schools at this point.

Several days ago, GFPS announced that it is adopting a "Pass/Fail" for the latter portion of the current school year for middle schools and high schools; click here for details. In related news, the Montana High School Association announced on Wednesday that all spring sports in schools across Montana have been canceled for the remainder of the school year.

Many other school districts announced this week that they will not re-open classrooms for the remainder of the current school year, including Billings, Bozeman, Glasgow, Butte, Helena, and Whitefish.

Additional information can be found at ​https://www.krtv.com/news/great-falls-news/gfps-remote-learning-will-continue-for-the-remainder-of-the-school-yearBy: MTN News