Schools Disagree Over Proposed Land Transfer
A disagreement between three Roosevelt County schools involves a possible transfer of land from both the Culbertson and Bainville school districts to the Froid school district.
A public meeting to resolve the matter is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 16, in the Roosevelt County Courtroom. Interested parties can provide testimony at that time in front of Molly Lloyd, designated representative of the county’s superintendent of schools.
The matter involves petitioners Rick and Carol Davidson along with petitioners Josh and Jaclyn Davidson requesting their land be transferred from the Culbertson or Bainville school districts to the Froid School District.
If the transfers are approved, the Culbertson School District would lose 4,806 acres of land and the Bainville School District would lose about 1,200 acres of land.
The Culbertson School Board voted to formally denied the transfer of land during its meeting on Dec. 16, 2025.
Culbertson Superintendent of Schools Nicole Simonsen points that the transfer would result in a loss of tax value and any funds from possible oil and gas production on the land for the school district.
Currently, the Froid School District consists of 293,497 acres of land compared to Culbertson’s 151,972 acres and Bainville’s 195,700 acres.
In the petition to transfer elementary school territory from the Bainville School District to the Froid Elementary School District No. 65, reasons provided by petitioners Josh and Jaclyn Davidson include that the transfer is in the best interest of the subject territory, it is in the best interest of the electors in the subject area and it will positively contribute to the efficient and effective operations of public education in the area. There are two school age children residing in the territory to be transferred.
The territory proposed to be transferred is Township 29 North, Range 57 East and consists of 1,123.30 total acres.
In the petition to transfer territory from the Culbertson Elementary School District No. 17 to Froid Elementary School District No. 65, reasons provided by petitioners Rick and Carol Davidson include the transfer is in the best interest of the children in the subject territory, it is in the best interest of the electors in the subject area and that it will positively contribute to the efficient and effective operation of public education in the area. Currently, there are zero school age children residing in the area proposed to be transferred.
The territory is Township 29 North, Range 57 East and features 4,806.36 acres.
In the petition to transfer land from the Culbertson High School District No. 17 to Froid High School District No. 65E, petitioners Rick and Carol Davidson provide the reasons for the transfer include the best interest of the children in the subject territory, it is in the best interest of the electors in the subject area and that it will positively contribute to the efficient and effective operation of public education in the area. Currently, there are zero school age children residing in the area proposed to be transferred.
Legal description of the land is Township 29 North, Range 57 East that features 4,806.36 acres.
The Froid School Board has approved the proposed transfers of land.
The proposed transfer also includes property owned by others, including the state of Montana. At least 60 percent of registered voters in a territory proposed to be transferred to another school district must sign a petition. Culbertson school officials say there are only two dwellings in the territory being considered.
According to Montana law, after receiving evidence from both the proponents and opponents of the proposed territory transfer, the county superintendent shall, within 30 days after the hearing, issue findings of fact, conclusions of law and an order. The decision of the county superintendent is final 30 days after the date of the decision unless it is appealed to the district court by a resident, taxpayer or representative of either district affected by the petitioned territory transfer. The county superintendent’s decision must be upheld unless the court finds that the county superintendent’s decision constituted an abuse of discretion.
