Kalispell Public Schools trustees met with local legislators at an education forum Wednesday to discuss the district’s needs before the 2013 legislative session.

Trustee Mary Ruby, who is serving her 13th year on the school board, said the district usually holds a forum before each legislative session.

“It’s an open dialogue so that we put ourselves in a position to be the people they go to, to ask questions. We want to be their experts on education,” Ruby said.

Legislators attending the forum included Rep. Keith Regier, R-Kalispell; Rep. Jerry O’Neil, R-Columbia Falls; Sen. Bruce Tutvedt, R-Kalispell; Sen.-elect Dee Brown, R-Hungry Horse, and Sen. Janna Taylor, R-Rollins.

Sandy Welch, Republican candidate for superintendent of public instruction, and Marcia Sheffels, Flathead County superintendent of schools, also attended.

Tutvedt, a 1974 graduate of Flathead High School, asked how a bill draft referred to as the Llew Jones Bill would benefit Class AA districts such as Kalispell.

Major components of the bill could affect school funding by redistributing oil and gas revenue statewide.

“One of the goals is to roll out the Llew Jones bill early and get it to the governor,” Tutvedt said.

District Superintendent Darlene Schottle said the district is very supportive of the bill.

Schottle asked for continued funding for the Montana Digital Academy, which provides a variety of courses that students can take online. Initially designed for students in smaller districts to have access to the variety of courses offered in larger districts, the program has proven useful for Kalispell Public Schools.

Schottle said many students use it for credit retrieval or to take electives that don’t fit into their schedules.

“It’s done a lot for our school district,” Schottle said.

Schottle also put in a plug for the Montana Quality Schools Grant Program that funds school facility and technology grants, matching planning grants and emergency grants.

“We have a $1 million request for grants for upgrades at Flathead High School,” Schottle said.

Ruby said even if a program isn’t in danger of losing funding, it’s always important to keep relevant programs on the forefront of legislators’ minds. Until a budget is completed, “There’s always concerns about funding,” Ruby said.

Legislators and trustees also talked about the Growth and Enhancement of Montana Students program, a compilation of school profiles and student performance data on kindergarten through 12th-grade students.

The Office of Public Instruction organizes this data. Currently it is funded through federal grants. The site allows educators and the public to compare schools.

“It’s a clear and easy way to share data,” Schottle said. “What we would hope from the Legislature as you talk though that is a way of supporting statewide funding of that.”

Flathead High School senior Jake Wilson and Laser Alternative School seniors Sierra Herron and Cameron Lloyd also spoke at the forum about their experiences, challenges and achievements in Kalispell Public Schools.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at [email protected].