School Board election: Barb Riley

Barb Riley (incumbent)

Background:

Born in Whitefish, raised in and graduated from Eureka, I’ve lived in the Columbia Falls area since 1988. I’m 62 years old, and I am a full-time real estate broker, working at some level of the housing industry for nearly 40 years. I’ve owned my own businesses, so I’m very familiar with hard costs of operations, employment challenges and the ever-changing demands. I have volunteered countless hours to support our students, schools and community through various roles, including PTOs, school board trustee, community market partner, fundraising for our food bank, and supporting Montana Log Jam to help victims of timber related accidents. My husband, Russ, and I have been married for 43 years. We have two daughters, both graduates from Columbia Falls schools, and we have two grandchildren, one is a student at Ruder Elementary.

The $84.4 million high school remodel bond was rejected by voters, but the school still needs upgrades. What improvements would you like to see and what do you think is an appropriate budget that will pass muster with voters?

The high school remodel project is necessary and must be addressed. The taxpayers provided the structure nearly 70 years ago, and it has good bones. We don’t need a new school, but major components have outlived their useful life. In addition, the layout of the learning spaces does not accommodate hands-on learning in the career and technical areas that our students need and are asking for. I am a proponent of “don’t go to the well more than once.” If electrical, windows, fire suppression system, and roofs are going to tear through nearly every area of the current building, then let’s take advantage of making the changes that will allow us to meet safety codes AND bring additional programs to the students. It’s the most cost-effective approach and should position the district to meet the needs of future classes for many years to come. Recent estimates indicate that we can get the renovation done for $75.9 million. For the average home in Columbia Falls (estimated at $600,000), the impact will be about $35/mo. This is a very small cost to invest in the long-term need of our schools. 

High school enrollment is down this year and kindergarten enrollment has been down the past couple of years. What can the district do to encourage families to send their children to school and what can be done to encourage those that are here to stay?

There are several potential reasons for enrollment fluctuations. Lower grade enrollments could be related to lower birth rates, which is a statistical fact. Enrollment in our area could also be related to families not being able to afford to live in this valley, relocating to other towns for jobs and housing access. Some families choose private options for younger students and then enter them into the public schools later in life. There are some students who struggle with the craziness that is part of the evolution from adolescence to adulthood, choosing online systems to support academic learning. These patterns are not new to public schools but do impact the ability for schools to plan for the best learning options. Parents need to engage with the schools, talk with teachers, administrators, other parents; learn what truly happens in our schools, what resources are available to support the students and families. The adage “it takes a village to raise a child” is true…parents and teachers working together to meet the needs of a child. I believe it still works this way when we are focused on the child.

Talk a little bit about your educational philosophy and what you see are the top needs of the students and staff in the coming years.

I believe a K-12 public school education is the greatest equalizer in society and gives every child the best shot at success. Our state constitution guarantees every person access to a system of free, quality public schools. As a taxpayer, I want that system to run efficiently, have the flexibility to evolve with the needs of the students that walk through the doors, and be the pride of each community. As a parent, I want every child to be able to take chances, explore options and grow to be an engaged, productive member of society. As a community person, I want our schools to be the bright spot that attracts new families to our area. A current critical need for both students and staff are balancing the necessary tools of applying new technologies while trying to differentiate the influences of artificial intelligence. Evolving technologies will outpace the ability for any person to keep up with the change. Helping guide students and staff with the best resources to navigate these changes will be critical to their future success.

What are your goals as a school board member?

My goals as a school board member are to ensure the district has the financial capacity to meet the needs of all students, and that we have provided them with a safe learning environment where they feel comfortable, engaged for continued learning, gain confidence in their future and successfully graduate from our schools. I want the district to be a great employer who attracts, supports and retains quality staff in all departments, and I want our community to be proud of our schools. 

If there’s anything else you’d like to add, please do so...

The work is never done when it comes to supporting our schools. As an elected volunteer for this community, I have approached my role with a focus on understanding how the system works, learning what challenges we must overcome to meet the needs of our students, and how to support fiscal needs. One area that has challenged every employer is health insurance benefits. 

This is one line item in a school’s budget that is escalating faster than inflation. For nearly 25 years I have been among many trustees and other education supporters across the state advocating for options to better control the increasing costs of health plans. On March 9, 2026, the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance in Helena announced validation of a new health insurance trust for our public schools. I currently chair the interim board of directors for Bridged Health Alliance, the provider of health insurance plans under this trust. As of March 13th, we have over 220 school districts enrolled, representing over 16,000 employees that will see new benefit plans effective July 1, 2026. For Columbia Falls, the projected savings in the first year is over $175,000. I share this as an example of one ‘challenge’ that our district was facing and the path we found to overcome it. Through my responses, I hope the reader sees my commitment to our schools and this community, and will support my re-election to the school board.