Glendive Public Schools believes in great communication. This page is dedicated to providing the information that is shared to our communities. This is done in a variety of ways, so we wanted to make a place that anyone can come to and get the information (just in case they miss it).
9/20/23 - Radio Show with Paul
What we talked about:
Superintendent’s Conference
Just got back
Reviewing all the new laws
Staffing is an issue throughout the state, even in AA schools (Teachers, Paras, Custodians, Bus Drivers)
Great Falls has hired 250 teachers in the last 3 years
Education is in a tough situation and it is only going to get worse unfortunately
9/13/23 - Radio Show with Paul
What we talked about:
Communication
Lowest Level - Contact the employee
Everyone is doing the best they can - We only know what we know
Think about if you were them, how would you want others to treat you
Employee - then Principal
Will be sent to the lowest level
We all want the same thing
Chain of command
Homecoming
Week of the 25th
FB vs Laurel - 29th
VB vs Park - 30th
9/6/23 - Radio Show with Paul
What we talked about:
Sports
Big win against Miles City
Golf, Cross Country, and Volleyball here in Glendive this week
LES Update
Closed on the loans a couple weeks ago
Almost all done with the heating and cooling done in the 1952 part of the building
Modulars are still on schedule
Working hard to have as little of a disruption as possible
Will need our community's help
Vaping
Having a rise in Vaping in DCHS and WMS
Smells like candy - Highlighters that work can be Vaping Pens
Parents need to be aware - more info will be coming from the district
8/30/23 - Radio Show with Paul
What we talked about:
Extracurriculars
4 day school week
No School Friday and Monday
Friday School will start Sept 8th
8/16/23 - Marcy in the Morning Radio Show
What we talked about:
First Full Week
PIR Day Friday
Sports starting - FB here against BC, Volleyball and Fergus, JV Volleyball here Saturday, CC and GO out of town
Extracurriculars
We are unfortunately raising participation fees, season passes, etc.
COVID really changed things - bad gift that keeps on giving
No money came in that year and the price of everything from supplies, motel rooms, gas, etc. just keep going up
We have tried to keep them down, but we just can’t anymore
We were negative last year -
Like having a savings account that you pay things out of - you don’t want to dip into your saving because that is for emergencies. You want to have revenues and expenses equal not dip into your savings.
We are doing things in all areas to save so it isn’t a huge burden, but it won’t be enough so we will need to look at fundraising as well
Many school districts just pay out of their general fund, but for us that doesn’t work because this is how it has been for as long as I know. To do that now puts a huge burden on the general fund that we didn’t have before
Eligibility rules changed as well - going to be following MHSA rules with a little modification - will make things more equitable
Employment
www.glendiveschools.com - Employment Opportunities - Click to Apply
Still need Paraprofessionals, Bus Drivers, Substitutes, Custodians, Cook Assistants
Just need a HS diploma
Call 377-2555 (Superintendent’s Office) for help with anything
8/16/23 - Marcy in the Morning Radio Show (With Paul Sturlaugson
What we talked about:
Start of the school year
Today is the first day for Kinder, 3rd, 6th, and 9th grade students
We love our transition day as it helps the student get used to the new building without all the distractions of the other kids - been very successful
First day for everyone else tomorrow
First full week next week
Bonds
Grateful to our community
We don’t take this lightly
8/9/23 - Marcy in the Morning Radio Show
What we talked about:
Vote Results
Bond and Levy Passed
Bond - about 61% yes
Levy - about 63% yes
About 30% more people voted than in May
We don’t take this support lightly. With every good thing comes more responsibility.
This was the first of a series of miracles that have to happen this year for GPS.
This was a team effort. Glendive is a great place to live. Glendive will continue to be a great place to live and the more we come work together, the better it will be. We truly are stronger together.
1967 last time bond passed - 56 years
Board Meeting last week
Approved loan resolutions
Closing date on August 15th
Word for the Year: Perseverance
It's a reminder that despite the tough times that may lie ahead, we are committed to moving forward with unwavering determination.
LES Update
Electrical and Heating in the 1952 part of the building - getting installed
Modulars are being built
Got many things figured out - we are still working on some
8/7/23 - Marcy in the Morning Radio Show
What we talked about:
Start of School
14th first day back for certified and classified staff
16th first day back for Kinder, 3rd, 6th, and 9th graders
17th - First day for everyone else
Excited for the new school year - great to start something new (hope)
If you need to register your kids, go to our website or call the individual schools
Bond and Levy
All ballots must be turned in by tomorrow at 8pm (August 8th)
Postmarked won’t work
Everyone needs to go vote - make your voice heard
If you haven’t registered to vote, you can go down to the Clerk and Recorder’s office and register and get your ballot
18 to 54 - Less than 30% voted last time
55 and up - Over 60% voted last time
Sports
Tonight at 6:30 (7th) - Fall Activities Parents Meeting
1st day of practice for HS starts at the end of this week
Tomorrow at 7pm at DCHS - Activity Workers meeting
Hiring
Accounts Payable/Payroll Specialist, Administrative Assistant to Superintendent, Custodians, Paraprofessionals, Cook Assistants, Bus Drivers/Aides
Go to the website (www.glendiveschools.org) to see the full list
7/26/23 - Marcy in the Morning Radio Show
What we talked about:
Start of School
Principals are back working hard to get ready for the start of school
MSU Pod of Student Teachers
Were were picked to host the MSU Pod of Student Teachers
They are in town today and tomorrow visiting before they come for school
We welcome them to our community
Bond and Levy
Should have received Ballot
Encourage everyone to vote
If you didn’t get one, contact the Clerk and Recorders office at the Courthouse
Can still register to vote and get a ballot - go to the courthouse
Hiring
Had some movement recently
Accounts Payable/Payroll Specialist, Administrative Assistant to Superintendent, Custodians, Paraprofessionals, Cook Assistants, Bus Drivers/Aides
Go to the website (www.glendiveschools.org) to see the full list
7/19/23 - Marcy in the Morning Radio Show
What we talked about:
Start of School
24th first day back for Principals
14th first day back for certified and classified staff
16th first day back for Kinder, 3rd, 6th, and 9th graders
17th - First day for everyone else
Hiring
JES (Interim) Principal - Roxie Quick
Gettting close to getting all teacher positions
Still looking for Paraprofessionals, Custodians, and Bus Drivers
Substitute Training - August 8th
Calendar - Download from Website (www.glendiveschools.com) - Top Right Corner
Bond and Levy
Ballots going out on the 20th (Tomorrow)
Voter Registration is closed to get a ballot in the mail, but you can still register and vote at the courthouse
August 8th Election - By 8 pm
6/21/23 - Marcy in the Morning Radio Show
What we talked about:
Summer
Always very busy, but this one more so than others
Still looking for quite a bit of people (hirings)
LES Plan
Decided on Monday to move forward with the purchase of modulars
Not ideal by any means but with our situation, it is the best plan with the least amount of risk
With anything, nothing goes 100% how you plan it, but we are working as hard as we can to minimize the disruption
For me, this needed to be a solution for Short Term (current students) and help us with Long Term (Future students)
Different Options - Stay at LES (3), Close down al (4), Close down part (1)
Still working on Financing - Using Voted levy and Permissive levy to finance it - trying to maximize what we have for the other buildings as well - looking at all options
Bond and Levy
Mail Ballots
July 10th close of Voter Registration
July 20th Ballots Mailed
August 8th
5/31/23 - Marcy in the Morning Radio Show
What we talked about:
Hiring and Hiring Process
New HS Principal - Amy Ree (Pending Board Approval)
JES Principal position open
DCHS Science
DCHS Industrial Arts
WMS Girls PE
WMS Science
WMS Math
JES 1st Grade
How the Bond and Levy not passing effects hiring
5/24/23 - Marcy in the Morning Radio Show
What we talked about:
Busy time of year (End of School Year)
Awards
Field Trips
Sports Activities
Graduation
Filling positions
Many positions left to fill
Bond and Levy
Board just voted to move forward again
August 8th elections (Mail Ballots)
Let people know what will happen if they don’t pass
Going to continue this during the summer (monthly)
5/17/23 - Marcy in the Morning Radio Show
What we talked about:
End of the school year
Facility issues
Boys bathroom at HS - Closed
Server went down
Facilities Meeting - tough decisions moving forward
Most projects are on hold
Board Meeting: Monday, May 22, 2023 at 4:00 pm
5/10/23 - Marcy in the Morning Radio Show
What we talked about:
Bond and levies
Canvas votes 1184 to 1181
Recount
Moving Forward
Preparing to look at General Fund to see on Cuts
Board will have to decided what to do next
We are going to be looking at a Facilities meeting or Special Board meeting soon
5/3/23 - Marcy in the Morning Radio Show
What we talked about:
Bond and Levy updates
HS Bond and Levy Failed
Elem Levy Passed
We need to move forward together
4/26/23 - Marcy in the Morning Radio Show
What we talked about:
Referendum Initiatives
Ballots are due on May 2nd
For more information, go to www.glendiveschools.com
The board structured Bond and the Levies so that it took care of the issues we are seeing and saved the taxpayers money
If they levies don’t pass, we won’t have money to pay for building related things and it will have to come out of the general fund
Administrative Assistant’s Day
Some people call them secretaries, but they so much more
A big thank you for all they do for our district
They truly do not get thanked enough for all that they do
4/25/26 - GPS Bond and Levy Information Meeting (Town Hall)
When: Tuesday, April 25th at 6:30 pm
Where: DCHS Auditorium
What to bring: Questions - any and all questions related to the Bond or Building Reserve Levies
4/19/23 - Marcy in the Morning Radio Show
What we talked about:
Referendum Initiatives
Ballots going out this week - www.glendiveschools.com
Town Hall Meeting - members of the GUSB board
April 25th at 6:30 in the DCHS Auditorium
This will be an opportunity to hear directly from the board members and ask any questions you may have about the bond and building reserve levies.
Math Curriculum Review Process
A huge thank you to all the people involved in this!
4/12/23 - Marcy in the Morning Radio Show
What we talked about:
Referendum Initiatives
Ballots going out this week - www.glendiveschools.com
Town Hall Meeting - members of the GUSB board
April 25th at 6:30 in the DCHS Auditorium
This will be an opportunity to hear directly from the board members and ask any questions you may have about the bond and building reserve levies.
Taxable Value
3/29/23 - Marcy in the Morning Radio Show
What we talked about:
Only about 30 days of school left
Last Wednesday in March
Referendum Initiatives
Town Hall Meeting
HS Bond, HS Building Reserve, Elem Building Reserve
Website for information
DCHS Art Show - March 30th (5-8)
3/22/23 - Marcy in the Morning Radio Show
What we talked about:
What is coming up?
Today is the end of the 3rd Quarter
Spring Sports have already started
Kindergarten Screening on March 31st
Why people should bring their students to the screening
3/15/23 - Marcy in the Morning Radio Show
What we talked about:
Referendum Initiatives
HS Bond, HS Building Reserve, Elem Building Reserve
Aren’t running any General Fund Levies
Website for information
3/1/23 - Marcy in the Morning Radio Show
What we talked about:
Buildings
HS Bond (8 million)
Cut the last one by 15.5 million
Building Reserve Levies (HS and Elem)
They are up at the end of this year
Increased from last time
General Fund Levies (possible HS and Elem)
We will know more this week if we have to run these
If we need to run these, it allows us to operate at around the same budget as we have been at for the last 6-7 years
Look out for more information
Website, social media, paper, radio, etc.
2/15/23 - Marcy in the Morning Radio Show
What we talked about:
Cell phones in schools
Some states banning cell phones (16 years and younger)
They are a tool
Balance between banning them and letting them do what they want
Big debate everywhere
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Tuesday, February 21 (2pm - 8pm)
2/8/23 - Marcy in the Morning Radio Show
What we talked about:
Technology Information for Parents
Programs that mask what the phone looks like
Research about the effects on the brain
So important to have Conversations with kids
2/1/23 - Marcy in the Morning Radio Show
What we talked about:
It is February 1st
Past the half way mark in the school year
Parent/Teacher Conferences coming up - End of Feb
Technology Information for Parents
One-third of teenagers wake up at night and check their phones - some up to 10 times a night
Keep the phones out of their room
Kids are addicted to their phones - Rewire brains
Some kids have a second phone
1/25/23 - Marcy in the Morning Radio Show
What we talked about:
Chatgpt and AI
A whole new world with technology
Where education is going
What AI is capable of doing
The world is changing so rapidly
1/18/23 - Marcy in the Morning Radio Show
What we talked about:
MAST pilot - 5th and 7th - formative assessment vs summative assessments
MT piloting it to possibly change how state assessments are done
A big Thank you to all of our 5th and 7th grade
Fastbridge - universal screener
Switched from NWEA MAP testing
Formative assessment
Use this to help make decisions for students
1/12/23 - Marcy in the Morning Radio Show
What we talked about:
Facilities
Upping the levies
Possible HS bond
More work to be done before Elem bond
The board has been doing their due diligence
1/4/23 - Marcy in the Morning Radio Show
What we talked about:
Facilities
Looking at what we have to do
Building Reserve Levies are up this year
LES Roof, LES Fire Alarm (Christmas Day)
WMS Water pipe break - kitchen (Day after Christmas)
Business Manager Retiring at end of December