“I can’t tell you anything more than what we all know in this room, that our grocery bills have doubled, our property taxes have gone up, and now we are eligible for free food across the entire district for up to three years,” Superintendent Tom Stack said at the May 15 Bigfork Public Schools Board of Trustees meeting. Bigfork schools saw an increase in state aid SNAP and TANF program qualifiers, with 27% of students qualifying, and are now eligible for free food across the district for three years through the USDA’s Community Eligibility Program.

The board approved applying to the program, with Ben Woods the only opposed. 

Bigfork High School has had trouble filling positions for their drivers’ education program with current wages at $32.31 an hour. Around 40 students are on the waiting list, with 24 currently in classes. Another driver would potentially double the number of students served. Surrounding schools pay between $31.95 and $34.28 hourly. To compete, Stack recommended offering the position at $42 an hour, while keeping the same fees for students and families to participate. 

“We have a nice nest egg of money in that account…” Stack said, “We own our own vehicle versus leasing, which is what a lot of other schools do.”

After some discussion, the board agreed to change the position’s hourly wage to $42. In the future, a stipend could be added to the position upfront, given a dedicated service contract. 

In facility maintenance, Clearwater Contracting is fixing sewer lines at the high school and elementary. At the elementary, some steps are starting to sink at the southeast corner and putting pressure on the sewer lines, costing $31,000 to repair. There is also a sleeve being put in to fix cracks in the sewer line at the high school, priced at $38,000. Both the high school and elementary are converting their lighting to LEDs for a total $4,800, which is hoped to save on electricity and time and money for bulb replacement in the future. Flooring projects will be continued at the middle and elementary school at about $10,000 a room. Five trees between the district office and cafeteria were recommended to be removed as preventative maintenance. One is leaning heavily in wind storms and two have beetle kill which is expected to spread. The removal of all five is estimated at $5,500, replanting the area will be considered in the future. The board approved of the projects. 

Board member Julie Kreiman reported that the Negotiations Committee came up with a 1.5% raise on the salary schedule for the Teacher’s Union. Personal day payback was also increased to encourage attendance. Support staff and administrative wages were also approved by the board for 2024-25, viewable in the May 15 meeting documents at bigforkschools.org/about/board-meetings. 

The votes were canvassed and trustees Dan Elwell, Deb Johnson and Woods were sworn in. Johnson and Woods will serve for the Bigfork Elementary School, Elwell will represent Bigfork High School and Swan River School. Johnson will serve a one-year term to keep with the original term length for that position, Elwell and Woods will serve three years. Paul Sandry was re-elected as Board Chairperson, committee assignments remained the same. Following an executive session, Superintendent Stack’s contract was extended through June of 2026.