Good Afternoon Families and Staff,

I want to genuinely thank all who participated in Wednesday’s hearing on the future of Hawthorne Elementary. This was an emotionally challenging evening for all in attendance.

However, it was also an evening of information sharing and raw, frank discussions that our community needed to have.

I appreciate all who stepped up this week to help give Trustees a 360-view of the difficult decision before them. If you weren’t able to attend, I encourage you to review the list of key factors and considerations presented to Trustees. The Board is expected to vote on Hawthorne in June.

At Wednesday’s hearing, Trustee Jeff Hindoien distilled the agonizing math and emotions wrought by school budget deficits down to one harsh reality:

At the end of the day, it’s about the painful work of reducing staff.

Schools are and should be in the people business. The more people we have, the more student programs and services we can offer. More than 90 percent of the district’s elementary general operating fund – the fund where we face a $2.6 million deficit for the 2025-26 school year – goes to paying staff salaries.

So, when we talk about making cuts, what we’re really talking about is reducing the number of adults who work with our students, Hindoien said.

In the meantime, I’ve been asked why the district is again seeking a technology levy, even as we consider closure of a school, even as we continue to reduce staff? Why a technology levy when we need to protect student programs?

Here is why, in a nutshell.

The district is struggling to cover technology costs that have far outgrown our first and only technology levy, passed back in 2004.

If the technology levy on the May 6 ballot fails, the district will be forced to make cuts to educational programs to sustain the most basic technology the district needs to operate.

Let’s take a closer look at what the technology levy would pay for.

Technology is today’s textbook

A reliable laptop is now as essential as a textbook once was. With most curriculum now online, today’s Chromebook is yesterday’s textbook.

Yet, the district cannot afford to replace student Chromebooks as they wear out. Elementary students are already sharing laptops at school. Our middle school students can no longer take their laptops home – a serious disadvantage for families without a computer.

The situation will become acute next year, when many of our student Chromebooks will expire from their license-support agreements.

The technology levy would enable the district to replace the laptops our students and teachers use every day as they wear out.

Meanwhile, the district is struggling to cover costs for our most basic tech needs – things like internet service, phones, building security systems, wiring and routers.

Consider that the concept of software licensing was in its infancy when our first tech levy was passed in 2004. Today, costly annual software license renewals are needed for just about everything we do – from operating secure doors and phone systems to delivering curriculum. So, too, with today’s sophisticated cybersecurity software, which was relatively primitive in 2004.

The district needs a sustainable, ongoing funding source for our most basic technology needs.

A smaller ask

This year’s $3 million technology ask is less than a quarter of last year’s combined ask for technology, safety and security needs. If passed, the district’s existing, $1 million-a-year tech levy would roll into the new levy, providing a total of $4 million in technology funding annually.

The new 10-year levy would cost the average Helena homeowner approximately $8 a month. 

Ballots will be mailed out April 21 by the Lewis & Clark County Election Office – mark your calendar! – and Election Day is May 6.

In closing, I want to share our district’s deep appreciation to all who are devoting time and attention to the changes we continue to make as Montana’s public schools face historic funding challenges. Please watch for our FAQ coming next week.

Going forward, my guiding star will continue to be a simple, singular mission – to provide every Helena student with the high-quality education they deserve and are guaranteed.

Respectfully,

Rex M. Weltz, Superintendent
Helena Public Schools