Winters should be warmer and hopefully more studious at Troy Junior High School. A $50,000 grant will be used to purchase a biomass boiler system as part of an ongoing effort to improve the heating and efficiency of the 97-year-old building.

“We have one in the elementary school,” Troy Superintendent Jacob Francom said. “We just learned that we received this grant this past week. While it does not pay for the entire boiler, it definitely goes a long way.”

The grant was disbursed by the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.

Francom said he has been working to improve energy savings and comfort levels in his schools for two years. He said further changes could be implemented if a request for a $500,000 Montana Quality Schools Grant is granted during the upcoming legislative session. Francom said Johnson Controls has served as a general contractor during the infrastructure projects and the company guarantees savings.

Another development in the Troy Public School District is the completion of a new district strategic plan. Francom said the guiding document for teacher development and teaching style was a product of teacher and parent feedback. The district education plan was accredited by AdvancED, a nonprofit organization that accredits schools worldwide.

“We continually work to shore up our foundation, but we also target our weak points,” Francom said. “The plan aligns with the Common Core both vertically and horizontally. From each grade level there is a certain progression, and students in the same grade but different classrooms are developing the same skills.”

Francom said the district will also work to expand student involvement with technology in the classroom. Francom said the creation of a comprehensive technology plan has lead to a serious focus on professional development. Some of the new contraptions entering classrooms require more training for the teacher than the student.

Francom said the fifth, and perhaps most important goal, of the district plan aims for a strong partnership between schools, teachers and parents.

“That is a key relationship,” Francom said. “That participation makes education stronger and the district better.”