Montana

Montana OPI encourages school districts to use federal COVID relief money

Published

2 years ago

January 3, 2023

Montana OPI encourages school districts to use federal COVID relief money

HELENA — The federal authorities has put aside a whole bunch of tens of millions of {dollars} for Montana faculty districts, to assist deal with the impacts COVID has had on college students. Now, state schooling leaders are encouraging districts to get artistic with how they use the cash.

Congress authorised three separate rounds of Elementary and Secondary College Emergency Aid, or ESSER, funding – totaling $189.5 billion nationwide and about $600 million for Montana. On Tuesday, Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen organized a panel dialogue on the Montana State Capitol, showcasing what districts across the state have executed with their share of the funding.

“As we speak’s occasion was attempting to advertise the truth that the ESSER funds are very versatile, and demonstrating that completely different districts are, the truth is, utilizing these funds very otherwise,” mentioned Wendi Fawns, of the Montana Workplace of Public Instruction.

Fawns is OPI’s director for ESSER and the associated program EANS, which helps personal colleges. She and her workforce have labored with districts to seek out methods to make use of the funding to handle native wants whereas assembly the necessities of the federal applications.

The largest pot of ESSER cash got here from the American Rescue Plan Act – $382 million. Districts have till September 2024 to make use of that cash. To date, they’ve spent simply over $84 million – about 22%.

Fawns mentioned a lot of the primary spherical of ESSER funding went towards expertise and well being and security precautions. Since then, she mentioned districts have incessantly invested in skilled growth and educational areas like literacy and math, in addition to tying teachers with social and emotional studying.

“I feel that is actually what the story is, is how can we use these funds in a technique to do the whole lot that we at all times simply described about attempting to maintain colleges open?” mentioned Stephen Schreibeis, superintendent of Glendive Public Faculties. “How can we recuperate, after which how can we spend money on that educational restoration?”

Schreibeis was one in all a number of directors who spoke throughout Tuesday’s dialogue. Most mentioned they’d used a few of their ESSER cash for a similar sorts of functions, however in addition they shared extra distinctive concepts they’ve pursued.

Goal Vary College District, close to Missoula, used a few of the cash for an enhanced playground that may also be used as an outside studying house, particularly for social and emotional growth. Eureka Public Faculties bought assist gear for a brand new class on “tiny residence” development, geared toward reaching college students who had been struggling throughout and after the pandemic. The Fergus County superintendent of faculties mentioned, within the rural colleges she oversees, it was a problem to totally clear and sanitize carpet when well being considerations arose, so that they used ESSER cash to put in new laminate flooring.

In Glendive, Schreibeis mentioned they used some ESSER funds to place in a short lived water system at one in all their colleges after it was discovered to have a water high quality problem. He mentioned that allowed them to remain within the constructing as an alternative of returning to distant studying – which he mentioned would have made it more durable to handle ongoing studying loss for the reason that pandemic.

“There are districts who know very clearly what they need to spend the funds on, after which some occasion will happen that adjustments all that,” mentioned Fawns. “So the dialogue then is, ‘Can we alter using funds and what can we do going ahead?’”

Fawns mentioned one in all OPI’s targets is to encourage districts to develop partnerships with organizations of their neighborhood, to allow them to make ESSER {dollars} go farther.

“When ESSER funds can be utilized to assist construct capability between, say, a Rotary Membership or a 4-H agent, with an area faculty district, that makes the programming effort way more sustainable, as a result of you have got a number of sources of funding coming in,” she mentioned.

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Montana

Montana senators receive committee assignments for 119th Congress

Published

2 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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Montana

Montana Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life results for Dec. 25, 2024

Published

11 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 25, 2024, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

15-26-27-30-35, Powerball: 03, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

04-10-35-42-45, Lucky Ball: 02

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

04-05-40-42-52, Star Ball: 10, ASB: 03

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

09-18-19-25, Bonus: 15

Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

08-29-30-47-57, Powerball: 01

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Montana Cash numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

01-05-10-39-41

Check Montana Cash 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 authors talk about state's 'political hell-raiser,' archaeology • Daily Montanan

Published

22 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Montana authors talk about state's 'political hell-raiser,' archaeology • Daily Montanan

Historian and author Marc Johnson gives a book talk next month about Burton K. Wheeler, “one of the most powerful politicians Montana ever produced,” as part of the Montana Historical Society’s lecture series.

Johnson will speak from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8, at Touchmark, 915 Saddle Dr. in Helena. He will talk about his book, “Political Hell-Raiser: The Life and Times of Senator Burton K. Wheeler of Montana.”

“(Wheeler) came of political age amid antiwar and labor unrest in Butte, Montana, during World War I, battling Montana’s powerful economic interests and championing farmers and miners as a crusading United States attorney,” said the announcement from the Montana Historical Society. “Wheeler went on to become one of the most influential, and controversial, members of the United States Senate during three of the most eventful decades in American history.”

Also in January, author and University of Montana archaeology professor Douglas MacDonald will discuss his “Land of Beginnings: The Archaeology of Montana’s First Peoples.”

The book talk takes place from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 16, at the Lewis & Clark Library, 120 S. Last Chance Gulch in Helena.

“While researchers have learned a great deal about the origins of the first people to call this region home, questions remain about which route or routes they took and when they made this journey,” said the Montana Historical Society about the book talk.

The organization also said the Original Governor’s Mansion will be open for free guided tours at noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26, and on Saturday, Dec. 28.

“The Queen Anne-Style mansion will be decorated for the holiday season through the weekend with surprises for visitors of all ages,” said the announcement.

For more information, contact Darby Bramble at [email protected].

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