Montana Education Excellence

The academy will provide both remedial and advanced courses for any Montana high school student at no cost to the student or his or her hometown school district. All teachers and course developers will be licensed Montana educators.

"We’ve made phone calls and sent some e-mails out; we’re doing whatever we can to contact folks. We feel horrible for the folks affected."

Currently, the Hamilton School District pays for everything tech related – from computers and software to its phone systems to scientific equipment – out of its general fund. It is the only district in Ravalli County that does not collect a technology levy to keep its technology, including the licensing of computer software, updated.

So the school board is again asking the taxpayers to help it with a technology levy. Previous requests were voted down.

We have each forged our own path for the future and want to thank those who have given us their undying support as we encourage continuation of this support in the upcoming years.

Three events were scheduled for the Big Equipment Rodeo: Skid Steer Races, Backhoe Basketball and the Excavator Simulator. The students actually ran the machinery in the event, some of them using the big equipment for the first time.

At the University of Montana Western in Dillon, where a unique scheduling system that allows students to take one course at a time is putting this tiny college on the map.

“We’re trying to turn out 21st-century learners,” McKinney said. “They need to be technology-literate so they are able to go into the workplace and higher education and have the skills employers want,” McKinney said, noting that her budget for the high school library is the same as it was 11 years ago. Unfortunately, it doesn’t buy as much as 11 years ago.

The undergraduate research conference continues through Saturday. All the presentations are free and the public is encouraged to attend. To find a schedule of presentations, go to the UM Web site http://umt.edu/future.aspx .

Peaks and Potentials is designed to give high-ability/high-potential students who will be entering grades 5-7 in the fall the opportunity to explore special topics of interest and work with experts in various subject areas.

Denise Juneau thinks the "Graduation Matters Missoula Initiative" can make a difference. The program’s goal is to get every student to graduate and get the community involved in education.