Category Archives: Great Falls Public Schools

GFPS board votes to forgo levy this year

The Great Falls Public Schools board voted during their March 27 meeting to forgo pursuing an operational levy for the upcoming budget year. The board’s budget committee discussed the options during a March 15 meeting and recommended to the full board to take the staff recommendation of usingĀ about $5 million of remaining federal COVID relief funds to offset some of

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Release of election details delayed; library says levy election will be June 6

The meeting planned for March 23 on the plan for upcoming local elections was removed from the Cascade County calendar around 6 p.m. March 21. Neither Great Falls Public Schools or Sun River Valley School District were notified of the change initially. Brian Patrick, GFPS business operations manager, emailed Sandra Merchant, county clerk and recorder, and her employee Deveraux Biddick

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Election process meeting canceled; Merchant says absentee ballots will be mailed

Sandra Merchant, Cascade County Clerk and Recorder, said in an email on March 21 that her office “will hold the upcoming May 2, 2023 school election and it will be completed as directed by the Montana Secretary of State.” She wrote that absentee ballots would be mailed April 17. In her email, that was also posted to the county website,

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Meeting set to discuss election plans; SOS provides more details on upcoming elections

The Montana Secretary of State’s office responded to The Electric late Friday with more information about the upcoming local elections. Richie Melby, communications director for SOS, told The Electric that the Cascade County elections office had submitted written plans for mail ballot elections for Great Falls Public Schools and Sun River Valley School District that are set for May 2.

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GFPS election also going to polls; Merchant says library levy email was a “misunderstanding”

A day after telling the Great Falls Public Library director that she didn’t think the elections office could handle a June 6 special election, Sandra Merchant, followed up to say it was a misunderstanding. Merchant, the county clerk and recorder, who was elected in November, emailed Susie McIntyre, the library director, around 7 p.m. March 15 and wrote, “I believe

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GFPS budget committee recommends no levy this year

The Great Falls Public Schools board budget committee voted during their March 15 meeting to not recommend a levy for the upcoming school year. The full board will consider the recommendation during their March 27 at 5:30 p.m. at the district office. During their March 15 meeting, district staff reviewed the budget projection and expect at least a $404,084 shortfall

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Updated: GFPD responding to “serious incident;” officer, suspect shot

Updated at 7:42 p.m. March 7 The Great Falls Police Department is responding to “a serious incident” in the 1100 block of 5th Avenue South. GDPD told media at 7:38 p.m. that they don’t foresee releasing any additional information about the incident tonight but most of the scenes will remain secure overnight and asked the public to avoid the area.

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GFPS holding public meetings on upcoming budget

The Great Falls Public Schools budget process is underway and there are several upcoming public meetings. GFPS is holding a legislative transmittal update at 5:30 p.m. March 7 at the district office building at 1100 4th St. S. Local legislators are invited to provide insights on the education related bills that met the deadline to be transmitted to the other

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GFPD investigating shooting of high school student; middle school suspect in custody

Updated at 3:25 p.m. The Great Falls Police Department is investigating the shooting of a teenager who was walking to school. Around 7:50 a.m. on Feb. 21, a 15-year-old male was shot while walking on the 1600 block of Valeria Way. “The incident was not random and results from ongoing disagreements. This by no means excuses this behavior, even on-going

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GFPS board approves Meadow Lark addition contract

The Great Falls Public Schools board approved a $1.48 million contract during their Feb. 13 meeting for the Meadow Lark Elementary addition. The project will add four new classrooms to the school. The addition is part of the district’s school improvement projects being funded with American Rescue Plan Act, or federal COVID recovery, money. GFPS rebidding Sunnyside, Meadow Lark projects

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