Montana

Montana education leaders deadlock on school counselor requirements

Published

2 years ago

July 15, 2022

Montana education leaders deadlock on school counselor requirements

HELENA — Montana is in the midst of a multi-year venture to evaluation and replace the baseline requirements for accredited colleges within the state. After a number of months of debate, a committee of schooling leaders reached consensus on virtually all of the proposed modifications, however they remained unable to seek out an settlement on how one can deal with the foundations for varsity counselors.

On Friday, the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee – arrange by the Montana Workplace of Public Instruction – accomplished its final assembly, the place members tried to resolve the remaining disagreements on two rule updates, together with the counselor problem.

Presently, Montana requires faculty districts to have one counselor for each 400 elementary college students and highschool college students. Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen has beneficial eradicating that ratio, saying native faculty districts wanted extra flexibility in addressing their college students’ psychological well being wants.

“I imagine the committee, in addition to myself, imagine that that is about serving college students – it’s not about staffing of adults,” Arntzen instructed MTN Friday. “That is placing the emphasis onto college students and the coed wants, in any form of a framework in delivering high quality schooling in Montana.”

Throughout Friday’s assembly, members agreed on language saying colleges should have counseling applications and that district superintendents should make suggestions on staffing them “primarily based on the capability of particular person counselors.” In addition they laid out choices for districts, together with using counselors, contracting with them or utilizing a consortium, multidistrict settlement or different cooperative system. Lastly, they stated superintendents should think about their faculty populations and scholar wants and think about further helps for counselors if needed.

Nonetheless, members couldn’t come to a unanimous settlement on whether or not to incorporate a selected ratio of counselors to college students. These in favor of eliminating the ratio stated having it didn’t assure good outcomes for college students. They stated most faculty districts are doing greater than what’s required by the present ratio, and that college district directors ought to be trusted to do what’s greatest for his or her college students and workers.

Those that supported retaining a ratio stated it was essential to offer districts a transparent guideline to observe, and that there ought to be a assure that counselors wouldn’t be requested to tackle considerably extra college students.

“We discover that there’s a level of diminishing return when faculty counselors have too many college students that they’re making an attempt to serve,” stated Dr. Renee’ Schoening, govt director of the Montana College Counselor Affiliation, who sits on the committee. “College counselors do loads of various things: They’re delivering classes on social-emotional studying, they’re offering particular person and group counseling, they’re that change agent inside a faculty system.”

Schoening stated most of her members really feel they have already got bother adequately serving as many college students as they’re assigned.

“I feel particularly now with what’s occurred with COVID and the rising psychological well being wants of our college students, it’s much more important that college counselors have the power to serve these college students nicely –and the one manner they’ll do that’s to have fewer of them,” she stated.

A lot of the public remark the committee acquired supported retaining a selected ratio – and presumably even reducing it.

The committee did attain consensus Friday on the opposite unresolved problem: faculty library requirements. In that case, they authorised eradicating a selected staffing ratio and changing it with language on expectations for every district’s library media program. Beforehand, they’d gotten settlement on 48 further rule proposals.

The proposed modifications will now go to the Montana Board of Public Training. Arntzen stated she’ll ahead the consensus suggestions precisely because the committee made them. On the counselor problem, she stated she’ll advance the language the members may agree on.

“These 21 people introduced ahead an excellent product, and I’m more than happy so as to add this to my suggestions, utilizing their work shifting it ahead,” stated Arntzen.

The board will think about the suggestions at a particular assembly on August 15.

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Montana

Montana Lottery Lucky For Life, Big Sky Bonus results for Dec. 26, 2024

Published

2 hours ago

December 27, 2024

Press Room

The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 26, 2024, results for each game:

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 26 drawing

09-10-12-30-47, Lucky Ball: 09

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from Dec. 26 drawing

01-05-06-30, Bonus: 01

Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 9:00 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
Lotto America: 9:00 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Montana Cash: 8:00 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Montana

Pablo man dies in Christmas Day shooting in Polson

Published

10 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

Pablo man dies in Christmas Day shooting in Polson

POLSON — A 31-year-old Pablo man was shot and killed early Christmas morning after what police are calling a disturbance in Polson.

The Polson Police Department reports that Lake County 911 took several calls for a shooting in the area of 11th Avenue West.

Polson Police, Lake County Sheriff’s deputies, and Flathead Tribal Police officers responded and found 31-year-old Sheldon Fisher had been shot and killed during a disturbance involving several people.

According to Polson Police, arrests were made on Wednesday, including the arrest of the suspected shooter, who has not yet been identified.

Polson Police are investigating the incident, along with the Lake County Coroner and Sheriff’s Office.

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Montana

Montana senators receive committee assignments for 119th Congress

Published

18 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

Montana senators receive committee assignments for 119th Congress

Micah Drew

(Daily Montanan) Montana’s soon-to-be senior U.S. Sen. Steve Daines will keep a key leadership position in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in the upcoming Congress, as well as take a new position on the Foreign Relations Committee.

Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota on Friday announced the Senate Republican Conference committee assignments for the upcoming 119^th Congress beginning next year. Daines also will serve on the Finance and Indian Affairs committees.

“It’s an honor to serve Montanans in the U.S. Senate, and I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues on these crucial committees to fight for our Montana way of life,” Daines said in a prepared statement. “President (Donald) Trump received a mandate from the American people, and with these committee assignments I’ll be working to enact the president’s agenda to unleash American energy, cut taxes, open overseas markets for Montana farmers and ranchers, improve America’s relationships abroad, bring down costs for hardworking families, secure the southern border and stem the flow of deadly drugs.”

Daines has also been the ranking member on the Subcommittee on National Parks, which he will chair in the upcoming Republican-controlled Senate.

Sen.-elect Tim Sheehy, a Navy Seal, will serve on the committees on Armed Services, on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and on Veterans’ Affairs.

Sheehy, of Bozeman, won his election to the Senate against incumbent Democrat U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, who had chaired the Veterans’ Affairs committee during the last two sessions of Congress.

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