Hot Springs voters support school levy

Hot Springs residents last week passed a $183,000 school levy, marking the first time voters have approved a school levy in the district since 2008 after failed attempts in 2019 and 2023. The measure was narrowly approved, 149-146.

School Superintendent Gerald Chouinard said in a letter addressed to Hot Spring staff and the community, “Your dedication and commitment to Hot Springs students and our community do not go unnoticed, and I want to express my heartfelt appreciation for your unwavering support during this time. Our heartfelt thanks on behalf of everybody within the school community. It was an overwhelming gesture and a heavy lift. The faith they have shown within their school is certainly the most profound of my career in educational leadership.” 

Chouinard partly credited the successful levy campaign to the efforts the district took with informing the public about the district’s financial needs.

The failure of the 2023 levy resulted in deep cuts amounting to 26% of the current budget, which included the reduction of an administration position. 

If this year’s levy did not pass, Chouinard said, “we would have more cuts across the board. Our number one priority was to have little or no effect on our students. Priority number two, little or no impact on our teaching staff. If we don’t pass this levy this year we’ve got a projected deficit next year. This can’t happen.”

The district current enrollment is at 169 students. That is down 40 students since the Covid pandemic. Montana has seen a steady decline statewide of over 17,000 students since the late 19902 even though the population has increased significantly.

Montana funds school districts from property taxes, 80% of the local school district budgets. The remaining 20% is funded by each local community.

With the passing of the levy, Chouinard stated, “Next year we will now be solvent. We are not going to make any new hires next year. We headed off this crisis that was coming up. We will reassess next year and see if we are going to bring back some things.”

In Plains, voters rejected a $100,000 levy request by a count of 713 to 402. Monica Weedeman and Ellen Childress were elected to the school board.

Noxon voters elected Annie Manning and Arthur Potts to the school board.