St. Regis School District included on Governor Brian Schweitzer's budget for the 2015 Biennium Quality School Grant
St. Regis, Montana, November 27, 2012 -- St. Regis School District is included on the Governor’s budget for Quality School Grant funds as requested by the district earlier this year. St Regis a K-12 school district in Mineral County submitted a proposal for ADA upgrades to the library restroom, gym seating, ADA access to the stage and locker rooms in a budgeted amount of $185,837. The district approved up to 20% in matching funds to pay for ineligible costs such as legal, audit, and administrative fees. Superintendent Hanson explained the written letters of support from individuals, business owners, community agencies, and our state representative Gordon R. Hendrick were certain to have played a large part in the district’s success.
The school board of St. Regis School District approved a resolution at a school board meeting in September to pursue the 2015 Biennium Quality School Grant and the district submitted its proposal in September to the Montana Department of Commerce. CTA Architects/Engineers in Missoula collaborated in the budget plan development on a pro bono basis and Carol Lee-Roark, Ph.D., of Hyalite Environmental, LLP provided a pro bono environmental assessment.
Governor Schweitzer’s list of school projects will be provided to the Legislature budget committees for approval. “The St. Regis School Board representatives, superintendent, and community supporters plan to be present at the meetings and ensure we are represented,” explained Hanson. “We want to put a personal face on the request.” Hanson shared how much this grant means to a small rural school. The Department of Commerce sends official notice of the approved funding in July.
The St. Regis facilities team is also researching energy improvement projects, mechanical upgrades, and a commercial kitchen upgrade project for their adult education program. “We are looking into energy credits and ways to coordinate projects that will maximize efficiency and reduce overall costs,” explained Hanson.
Questions or comments may be directed to Superintendent Hanson, 649-2311, or school board members.
The Quality Schools Grant Program (Quality Schools) is a competitive grant program created to provide infrastructure grants, matching planning grants, and emergency grants to K-12 public school districts in Montana.
The statute creating the Program was passed by the 61st Legislature and signed into law by Governor Schweitzer on April 28,2009 (Sections 90-6-801, et seq., MCA). Under state law, the principal objectives of Quality Schools are to:
· enhance the quality of life and protect the health, safety, and welfare of Montana’s public school students;
· ensure the successful delivery of an educational system that meets the accreditation standards provided for in 20-7-111;
· extend the life of Montana’s existing public school facilities;
· promote energy conservation and reduction;
· integrate technology into Montana’s education framework to support student educational needs for the 21st century; and
· be fiscally responsible by considering both long-term and short-term needs of the public school district, the local community, and the state.
Executive Recommendation Volume 4 of the Governor’s 2015 biennium Executive Budget contains the department’s evaluation of each of the
Quality Schools applications and the detailed funding recommendations.
· There is $12,268,792 available from the School Facility and Technology Account for funding 2015 biennium Quality Schools project grants. For the 2015 biennium, there were 66 applications requesting over $37 million in project grant funds.
· HB 15 contains the list of projects recommended for Quality Schools project grant funds. Table F-10 lists each project and the recommended grant, if there are sufficient monies to fund each project.
· 29 school facility projects could be funded in the 2015 biennium with an appropriation of $11,268,792.
· HB 15 also contains requests for $900,000 to be used by the department to award matching planning grants, and $100,000 to be used by the department to award grants for emergency projects.
Since the 2011 Legislature met, the department has administered 59 school facility infrastructure grants and 28 grants for school facility planning, and awarded 6 emergency grants