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PRESS RELEASE: August 23, 2024 - For Immediate Release

On August 22, 2024 Montana Governor Greg Gianforte sent a letter to district superintendents and trustees across the state asking them to consider adopting policies that create “cell phone-free” schools. The important letter from the Governor is timely and is very much connected to work and processes already in motion within Bozeman Public Schools.

During the 2023-2024 school year, community stakeholders came together to revise and update the District’s Long Range Strategic Plan (LRSP). One of the areas acknowledged and discussed by the revision committee was tied to student well-being, particularly student mental health, and the barriers that limit student engagement in their education. The impacts of cell phones and social media were a key part of that discussion. A student well-being measurable goal placeholder was adopted in the final draft that reads: By 2025, the District will establish a system that measures and responds to the barriers that limit student engagement. 

The BSD7 Board of Trustees approved the District’s LRSP Five-Year Plan at their regularly scheduled board meeting on August 19, 2024. A preliminary plan was included on how the District intends to address the student well-being goal, which will likely result in policy changes consistent with the Governor’s letter urging “cell phone-free” schools. 

Bozeman Public Schools is moving forward with phase one of the plan and has assembled a working group of community stakeholders that include key experts in the area of mental health from the Gallatin City/County Health Department, Bozeman Health, and the Behavioral Health Coalition. In addition, representatives from  Bozeman Schools Foundation and THRIVE will be part of the working group. The group also includes BSD7 parents, students, school counselors/psychologists, and members of site/district administration. The working group will be tasked with the following:

• Take stock of current reality as it relates to the mental health of our youth.

• Collectively read and use the following book as a foundational resource: Haidt, J. (2024). The anxious generation: how the great rewiring of childhood is causing an epidemic of mental illness. Penguin Press.

• Recommend measurable goal(s) and related action plans.

• Recommend possible board actions pertaining to cell phone and/or social media policies.

Phase two of the process is focused on community engagement. We have seen across the country that cell phone bans in schools that aren’t tied to broader community engagement on the topics of student health, mental health, and engagement are often repealed after implementation due to lack of stakeholder buy-in. A cell phone restriction during the school day has less impact if the damaging aspects of cell phone and social media use are not addressed broadly across the community and in family systems. Phase two of the process planned for winter 2025 includes:

• Data sharing and community presentations to increase awareness regarding student mental health and well-being.

• Survey tools to gauge public interest in pursuing possible policy changes as they relate to cell phones and social media.

Phase three, scheduled for spring 2025 involves Board education and possible Superintendent recommendations for changes to policies regarding student cell phones, social media, and other associated topics. 

While the District works through this process, the current board policy related to cell phone use in our schools remains in place. Policy #3630 prohibits the use of cell phones at our elementary and middle schools during the school day, and generally limits their use at the high school level to non-instructional locations.  

The health and well-being of our young people is fundamental to the work we do as a public education system. We appreciate the community’s support, patience, and engagement as we carefully work through the process of incorporating the right voices, tools, and policies, including potential updates to cell phone usage. Our goal is to support not only the academic success of our students but also their social and emotional well-being.

Respectfully,

Casey Bertram, Superintendent

August 20, 2024 - For Immediate Release

PRESS RELEASE from Gallatin County, Bozeman School District, City of Bozeman, City of Belgrade, and Belgrade School District.

Last week, the Department of Revenue (DOR) sent a letter to the Bozeman City Commission and Belgrade City Council regarding certified taxable values in our area, which are published by the DOR annually.  In summary, the letter says the taxable value distributed for Gallatin County was incorrect.  The DOR ran out of time and was unable to include all newly taxable property in our certified taxable values.  The calculation impacts multiple taxing jurisdictions including Gallatin County, the Cities of Bozeman and Belgrade, and the Bozeman and Belgrade School Districts.

If taxes are levied based on these incorrect certified values, existing property owners are likely to pay higher tax bills while newly taxable properties may avoid payments until 2025.  Doing so will also cause revenue shortfalls for some jurisdictions, which may result in a lower level of service to the communities.  These impacts are not acceptable to our elected officials, administrators, and constituents.

We cannot stress enough how much we appreciate the Department of Revenue’s efforts during a time period where property tax fatigue and angst is elevated statewide.  Our elected officials and administrators within all of our jurisdictions have the utmost respect for the Department and its staff. 

Our entities agree that it is critically important to get this issue corrected for our shared taxpayers.  Fortunately, we have some time before tax bills are mailed in October.  We see this as an opportunity for our local jurisdictions and the Department of Revenue to work together to resolve this issue and do right by the area taxpayers.  Our entities sent a letter to the DOR requesting their support in this effort, and we look forward to collaborating with them to that end.