Turner using Indian Education for All grant

Turner Public School received a grant to provide additional education on Montana American Indian culture and history.

The Indian Education for All Division of the Montana Office of Public Instruction awarded Turner Public School $3,400.

Superintendent Tony Warren said in a press release the money will be used to buy K-12 book sets and to bring in tribal speakers.

"The grant will also help expand education beyond the walls of the classroom for the district's 64 students," he said in the release. "All grade levels will travel to the Blaine County Museum and the Bear Paw Battlefield to learn more about the area's Native American history and its significance. Although only an hour away, few Turner students have had an opportunity to visit the battlefield."

Combined with classroom learning, the field trips provide an important way to deepen students' understanding of the American Indian culture and experience, he added.

"This grant gives our district the ability to provide a great learning opportunity for our students.  We would not be able to bring in outside speakers, purchase additional book sets or go on these field trips without these additional financial resources," Warren said.

Small grants like these can make a big difference for rural schools, he said, and he plans to continue looking for outside funding.

"We have a great staff and great kids," Warren said. "We want to provide the best education possible and the outside funding helps us to continue to update and expand learning opportunities for our students."

The grant is among others Turner Public School District has received, the release said, such as:

• Humanities Montana grant to bring Anishinaabe artist and cultural consultant Louise Fisher to the school this month; 

• Triangle Communications technology grant to purchase document cameras for all teachers;

• Montana Masonic Foundation grant for the library to buy a cart, a mobile book display, classroom novel sets for grades seven-12, and books on Montana history and culture;

• Walmart grant to purchase physical education and weight room equipment;

• Montana Office of Public Instruction school safety grant to conduct a youth mental health training.