Havre Public Schools board discusses legislative strategy

With the legislative session kicking off this week, it is time for the public sector "Hunger Games" to begin. Team Havre Public Schools talked about their strategy at Tuesday night's school board meeting.

The board's information packet for the meeting contained a list of 102 bills proposed in the past year for this session that pertain to Montana public education.

Havre Superintendent Andy Carlson gave trustees a rundown of some of the highlights, mostly focusing on a proposal from Sen. Llew Jones to revise school funding. Carlson said the bill has already gotten the support of all of the biggest education advocacy groups, including the Montana School Board Association and the teacher's union, MEA-MFT.

Other bills range from limiting the scope of sex education to working to increase school breakfast participation. Sen. John Brenden, R-Scobey, requested a draft last month to require a U. S. flag in every classroom.

Carlson also mentioned that Havre Public Schools will once again host the weekly video conference with Hill County's legislators every Tuesday at noon in the Robins Administrative building. Anyone is welcome to attend.