Great Falls School Board 2023 election on May 2: here's what candidates have to say
The Great Falls Public Schools School Board has three positions up for election this coming week, with five candidates vying for the seats.
Trustees Bill Bronson, Kim Skornogoski and Amie Thompson are running for reelection, with candidates Rodney Meyers and Tony Rosales challenging for board seats in the May 2 election. The candidates with the top three vote totals will be elected to the positions.
Absentee ballots were mailed out last week by the Cascade County Clerk and Recorder’s office, but there are other options to vote in the election for those who did not receive a ballot.
If you did not receive an absentee ballot, you can register to vote, request an absentee ballot or vote in person at the Cascade County Elections Office, 325 2nd Ave. North, Room 100, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Monday, May 1. Absentee ballots must be requested by noon on May 1.
Voters can also cast their ballots in person on Tuesday, May 2, at Exhibition Hall at Montana ExpoPark from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Here is a look at the candidates for the GFPS School Board, in alphabetical order.
Bill Bronson
Age: 68
Occupation: Semi-retired attorney/part-time executive director of Cascade County Law Clinic, a low-income legal assistance program
Education: Graduate of CMR High School; degrees in economics, public administration/political science, and law from the University of Montana (Missoula)
Why should you be re-elected to the GFPS School Board?
I am committed to the goals for public education the people endorsed when they voted for our new state constitution in 1972, specifically:
-Develop the full educational potential of our young people, through a system of publicly supported elementary and secondary schools;
-Support equality of educational opportunity;
-Recognize the distinct and unique cultural heritage of American Indians and include within our educational goals the preservation of their cultural integrity (our school district is almost 16 percent Native American);
-Ensure that the supervision and control of our local schools remains under locally elected trustees
As a current trustee, I serve on our board’s Budget Committee, as well as the Policy Committee. I help develop our annual budget and assist in drafting the day-to-day policies that govern our district. During the past three years, I have monitored the English-Language Arts curriculum development and implementation, and now the social studies curriculum review. I am also part of the oversight board for Central Montana Works!, an innovative effort to enhance career opportunities for young people in our schools, whether they choose college, or a trade, or some other career.
Ultimately, I want our young people to obtain a strong, basic education, that will prepare them for a good career and to be good citizens of our state and nation.
Over the years, I have volunteered time with our schools, including but not limited to judging speech and debate contests, critiquing drama performances, providing job shadowing opportunities in my business, and sitting on scholarship review committees. I also engage with teachers and students on their experiences and get feedback from them on issues and concerns, on everything from curriculum to student behavior.
I have the time, the interest, and the experience to be an engaged and effective school board trustee.
What do you feel are the biggest issues or challenges facing Great Falls Public Schools?
Perhaps the greatest challenge facing our district and our young people stems from factors largely outside of our control: mental health problems, substance abuse, homelessness, dysfunctional families, and physical and emotional abuse negatively impact our young people and prevent many of them from doing their best in school and completing their studies on time and graduating. These are community problems and therefore require a community response. The school district must play a role, including monitoring students with issues in these areas, and engaging parents and guardians to help our young people escape these traps so that they can secure their full potential.
Funding our schools is always a challenge. We rely on up to 80 percent of our funding from state sources. We need to keep this state commitment in place, and to build on it, to avoid placing too great a burden on our local taxpayers. This effort includes doing what we can to increase the available pool of dollars so we can pay better salaries to our teachers and remain competitive for these jobs in our muti-state region.
What goals do you hope to accomplish if elected to the trustee position?
-Work with community members, law enforcement, and nonprofits to address the mental health problems, substance abuse, homelessness, dysfunctional families, and physical and emotional abuse issues I referenced above.
-Support and implement targeted programs to ensure reading proficiency as well as greater success in other basic academic programs such as English language arts, social studies, and mathematics, to make sure our students are getting the best education possible in preparation for work and life experiences in the 21st century.
-Budget prudently for district operational and capital expenses, to achieve maximum effectiveness in managing the monies entrusted to us by the public.
Rodney Meyers
Age: 61
Occupation: Business Systems Manager
Education: BS in Computer Science
Why should you be elected to the GFPS School Board?
We see the coarsening of our culture, the increased suicidal ideation of our students, especially sixth-grade girls. We see the increased level of violence in our schools resulting in a near record level of interactions with our SROs this school year.
We also see the continued slide in the proficiency levels.
We need a new focus on our school board to get us back to our core competency: teaching. My daily job is the collection of data and the evaluation of processes to determine better ways to accomplish a desired result. I would like to apply my thirty-seven years of experience to help our district focus on the education of our students.
What do you feel are the biggest issues or challenges facing Great Falls Public Schools?
I think that a part of the issue with mental health among our students is the dichotomy in our approach to teaching; leading the students to wonder which way they are supposed to go. On one hand, we tell our students that respect, truthfulness, perseverance, forgiveness, etc. is the way they are to act in our schools and in their lives.
On the other hand, we have reading assignments that promote disrespect, bullying, violence, inappropriate sexual activity and demeaning behavior. And, since this is an assigned reading, how can our students think anything other than that this type of behavior is supported by the school; especially when it is also prevalent in their home lives outside of our schools?
What goals do you hope to accomplish if elected to the trustee position?
We have a program through all of our schools that was implemented this year entitled CharacterStrong. Within this program each month focuses on a different aspect of character development such as Respect, Responsibility, Gratitude, Perseverance, Honesty.
I would like to implement policy that will direct the the full integration of CharacterStrong in all aspects of school functionality. I would like to align all our school curriculum within the CharacterStrong framework so that we are expressing a consistent message to our students that will, as our mission states: “… successfully educate students to navigate their futures.”
This is something that our students have already begun through the I Am Bison initiative where they promote good behaviors within our schools. What they have started, I would like to assist in making district wide.
Tony Rosales
Age: 30
Occupation: Healthcare Consultant
Education: Carroll College, 2014 BA; University of Notre Dame, 2019 PhD
Why should you be elected to the GFPS School Board?
I was born in Great Falls, attended Lewis & Clark and East Middle schools, and graduated from Great Falls High in 2010. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities that GFPS provided me including a strong music program, speech and debate, and rigorous advanced courses taught by exceptional teachers. Due remote work as a result of the pandemic, I re-established my residency in my hometown. I immediately involved myself in this community. I coach debate at CMR High School. I teach chemistry at the University of Providence. I help support and manage my family’s scholarship honoring my late father which is awarded each year to a graduating senior. I serve on the board of the GFHS Music Alumni Association, where we are also trying to establish a scholarship program. I am excited to continue bringing my talents and skills to different aspects of our community here in Great Falls.
Opportunities outside of Montana are vast and we must elect school board members who have personally faced the same challenges our students will such as taking on student loans during skyrocketing tuition costs at increasingly more competitive colleges or balancing expectations of career and family while wondering if you will hit important economic milestones such as buying a house. Of the five candidates for school board, I am the only one who can best relate to the challenges our students currently face.
My experiences helped me develop an expertise in program effectiveness, strategic planning, and relationship building. I consistently and successfully transfer problem solving, research, and adept learning skills to fields that are new to me, resulting in early and valuable contributions. Accomplishments are common among Great Falls alumni who left for opportunities but only a few contribute back to this community. My long-term vision for Great Falls is to establish a society where our prodigal sons and daughters take up responsibility toward the community that helped raise and educate them. This starts in our public schools.
What do feel are the biggest issues or challenges facing Great Falls Public Schools?
First, we have an awesome community here in Great Falls. We may not provide the same educational opportunities as metropolitan areas, but the top students we help develop are just as impressive. Unfortunately, our most successful students may not contribute back to Great Falls since some leave for opportunities not available here. This results in a “Brain Drain” on our communities. This problem is compounded with current trends in Great Falls including stagnated population growth, aging population with younger generations leaving, and an increasing healthcare shortage. As the average age of Great Falls increases, more healthcare workers are needed to provide quality care. The net loss of our younger populations opens a question: who will fill these healthcare shortages? Hopefully, those who do remain in Great Falls and surrounding areas will pursue further education and fill these roles.
Our current test scores are a red flag toward that future. As an example from the 2021-2022 school year, elementary schools in low-income neighborhoods have poor assessments (less than 25% of students are proficient). Two of these low-income schools have only 6-15% of students who are proficient in math, reading, or science. These schools have lower attendance rates: less than 90% in schools in low-income neighborhoods vs more than 90% in all other elementary schools. A reasonable solution to these problems is to increase funding. However, these schools spend 15-20% more per student compared to high-performing schools ($13-15k/student vs $10-11k/student). This is an instance where more funding has not yet addressed the challenges in education.
Many blame the pandemic for these challenges, and to an extent this is true. The pandemic increased student homelessness and mental health disorders while also decreasing test scores. However, the pandemic was not the cause, but merely exacerbated the problem. As another example, high school science test scores have declined steadily for the past five school years. These educational trends compound strain to our healthcare shortage. Again, are we comfortable with a future where the quality of healthcare is continually threatened by lack of a well-educated community?
What goals do you hope to accomplish if elected to the trustee position?
First, we set high expectations and ensure all GFPS teachers, students, and parents are aware of their responsibility to achieve these. Billings’ new superintendent of schools used the mantra “high expectations and high support." We set high expectations, including in low-performing schools, but then we work with teachers, students, and parents to holistically support them. We don’t lead by a top-down approach but instead ask “how can we help?”
The peer-reviewed literature suggests low performance in low-income neighborhoods is associated with a lack of family and community support. Great Falls is not a science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) poor community. GFPS goals should include increasing collaborations with both hospital systems, both university systems, and the McLaughlin Research Institute. These types of institutions are not common in smaller cities like ours, and we must utilize them to our full advantage.
Finally, test scores have a place in understanding trends in our education system, but they are not comprehensive. A 21st century education system requires us to develop better types of performance metrics. Priority metrics for GFPS should include how many students received a college degree, have full-time employment, or remain in Great Falls at 5-years, 10-years, and longer time points.
Kim Skornogoski
Age: 46
Occupation: United Way of Cascade County Marketing Director
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from University of Montana
Why should you be re-elected to the GFPS School Board?
I am currently the board vice chair and the longest-serving Great Falls school board member after joining the board in 2017.
Through my time on the board, we have gone through redistricting, constructing new schools, naming a new superintendent, COVID-19 closures, updating curriculum and responding to the pandemic learning loss and managing additional federal funds.
I am the only board member who is also the parent of a public school student. As the mother of a Sunnyside fifth-grader, I’m in our schools every day. Having a parent’s voice when making decisions for our students is critical.
Through my work at United Way, I regularly work with teachers and administrators toward the goal of getting every student to graduate on time and prepared for college or a career.
I am a lifelong advocate of public education. I have seen education and educators change the lives of many students facing significant challenges. I truly believe public education is a cornerstone of our community and of our country.
What do feel are the biggest issues or challenges facing Great Falls Public Schools?
Before the pandemic, one in four preschoolers entered Great Falls Public Schools without the skills needed to succeed in kindergarten. Now 40% of preschoolers don’t have those skills.
The learning gap impacted students’ learning and behavior at every grade level. It will take time and extra support to help students get back on track.
Since August, 80 GFPS students sought help at the Benefis ER after suicidal thoughts or actions. Our schools quickly responded, working with the hospital and parents to share information about these incidents with school staff to provide wrap-around supports for struggling students.
GFPS is screening all sixth-graders, with their parents’ permission, to identify students who are depressed or have anxiety and connecting them to resources. Mental health counselors are training students in our middle and high schools to identify students who may need help.
Recruiting and retaining teachers is a huge challenge for every district in the state and every school in the country. Last year, GFPS hired 86 new teachers.
Our teachers are working harder than ever and face additional challenges with students’ behavior. We need to support all teachers and provide quality training to help teachers adapt to these challenges.
Federal COVID-19 dollars have balanced the budget and made overdue investments in technology, curriculum and academic supports. Those funds must be spent by 2025.
It will be challenging to continue to close the achievement gap and to protect staff without the extra funding.
What goals do you hope to accomplish if elected to the trustee position?
As a parent and as a trustee, I appreciate that Great Falls Public Schools sets bold goals for student achievement and is constantly looking for innovative approaches to improve education for all students.
Our district leads the state in offering dual enrollment classes, which allow students to start earning college credit or certificates for good-paying jobs.
In our district, students who specialize in Career Technical Education have a 97% on-time graduation rate because those students find a passion and can see how education connects to their futures. Supporting CTE programs, whether that’s business, STEM or medical prep, is a priority for me as a trustee.
Trustees will also need to balance the budget as the federal COVID-19 dollars sunset. The district has been very conservative in how those dollars are spent, but once the one-time federal dollars are gone, we must prioritize services needed to support students.
The state’s once-a-decade review of the education funding formula will be in 2025. Currently, Montana spends $1,400 less per student than the national average. On top of that, Great Falls spending per student falls $1,500 below the state average.
Reaching out to other school districts and legislators will be important in the coming year so that our funding lives up to the promise in the Montana Constitution of a quality education for all students. We also need to continue to build trust with our local residents so that we can see continued local support of school levies.
No matter the challenge before the school board, I am always thinking about ways that volunteers, parents, nonprofits and community organizations can get involved to help students and staff succeed, whether that’s stuffing buses with school supplies or recruiting seniors to read in classrooms.
I hope to continue to bring the perspective of parent and community partner to the Great Falls Public School board.
Amie Thompson
Age: 48
Occupation: Communications Coordinator at NorthWestern Energy
Education: Bachelor’s in journalism and history from the University of Montana and a Master’s in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University.
Why should you be re-elected to the GFPS School Board?
I have a very intimate understanding of the school district, having served one year on the board, volunteered in classrooms and for Great Falls Public Schools for 17 years, and served on PTA boards for nine years.
My passion for public education stems from my years volunteering in classrooms and believing every child deserves an opportunity to learn. I saw the incredibly hard work teachers do to reach both ends of the spectrum. Teachers are our superheroes, and I will support them as they shape the next generation of leaders.
I understand our successes and struggles because I’ve seen them firsthand. I’m an advocate for student success, teacher support and community partnerships and am an out-of-the-box thinker willing to help the schools continue to partner with the community to find win-win pathways for our students to succeed while also meeting workforce needs.
Learn more about me on social media at Amie Thompson for School Trustee.
What do you feel are the biggest issues or challenges facing Great Falls Public Schools?
The mental health of our students is the most challenging issue we are facing right now, and the shortage of mental health access for those who need it is making a difficult situation even more critical. This is more than a school problem. It’s a community issue.
Since August 2022, 80 students have presented to the emergency room for active and passive ideation; 16 of them were sixth-graders. (These are just the students whose parents agreed to let the schools know. There are likely more.) There have been two students die by suicide.
It is difficult for students to find success in the classroom when they are dealing with mental illness and depression. This is compounded by substance abuse and/or physical abuse and homelessness.
The district is working to screen sixth-graders with parent consent, and those who need help receive it that day. In addition, I appreciate the efforts of our community members, including Alliance for Youth and the SRO program through the Great Falls Police Department and others who are working to protect the students.
Earlier this school year, I spoke with a student who is a member of the Peer Mentoring Program. These amazing students are reaching their peers in ways adults can’t, and they can urge struggling students to get help from teachers and counselors. This peer mentor told me sometimes students don’t feel they can burden their own parents with their struggles because they see their parents dealing with their own depression, anxiety or addictions.
The district needs more help, more community support, to help serve the students who are the future of our community.
What goals do you hope to accomplish if elected to the trustee position?
Our public education system is the foundation to our city’s growth. So, for me, the priority is getting students across the stage. My top three priorities are to eliminate the barriers that keep some of our students from graduating:
Mental health of our students and the common underlying family issues, including drugs, homelessness and food insecurity.
Continuing to partner with the community to find win-win pathways for our students to succeed while also meeting the needs of the Great Falls workforce.
Retaining and recruiting our teaching staff. Having top teachers is key to a strong district and a bedrock to a strong community.
When companies recruit to Great Falls, a top candidate wants to make sure the school system is good. When businesses look at planting roots here, they need to know there is a workforce ready to help them succeed.
This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Election 2023: Great Falls Public School Board candidates Q&A
