Plains School Board discusses grants, appoints new coaches

The Plains School Board convened a special meeting earlier this month to address an end-of-year requirement as a participating school that receives funding through the Montana Advanced Opportunities Grant.

The Plains School District is required to complete and submit an annual report demonstrating continued qualifications for funding. The time frame for the annual report submission ends on Jan. 13.  

Montana Advanced Opportunities Act was passed by the Montana Legislature with several goals in mind: To expand personalized career and technical education opportunities for middle and high school students; to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for students and families in support of students post-secondary success; and to authorize elected school board officials to invest in Montana students by supporting pathways for careers. 

The Plains School District received grant funding in the amount of $27,414. Expenditures for 2024 were $2236. Continued funding requires the Plains School District to submit progress made during the year. 

Several of the requirements include remote learning which requires having at least 70% of students passing their digital academy classes. Work based learning requires 10% or more of students to graduate from Plains School with a minimum of one semester of work-based learning experience.  

In the summary of projected growth in the program section of the annual report submitted by the school, officials said, “In our short time with this grant there has been a noted benefit to those students who have participated.” 

School Board members also unanimously approved Alexis McComas as the volunteer assistant girls basketball coach. Elementary School Principal Kevin Meredith was approved as the Junior High School girls basketball coach. Also hired for a position with the 21st Century Grant Afterschool Program, as a Program Staff Assistant, was Eleanor Bebb.  

During the public participation on non-agenda items, teacher Kenneth Nelson asked the board to consider retaining student teacher Liam Purcell after his contract expires. Purcell was teaching English and working as a student teacher from the University of Montana with Nelson. 

Nelson said, “His skills were commissary.” Nelson commented that the board would need to move fast in order to retain Purcell.