Culbertson School Board Prepares For New Year
The Culbertson School Board’s Aug. 19 meeting agenda included a full slate of back-to-school business, including enrollment, federal funding, transportation, staffing and building improvements.
The district received good news regarding federal Title funding for the 2025-26 school year. The federal government released the funding, meaning the district would not have to absorb a previously anticipated $36,000 deficit. The district was also preparing an application for an additional $11,000 through an ESSA grant.
As of Aug. 14, enrollment for grades 6-12 stood at 278 students. The 2025-26 school year ended with 271 students districtwide, including 124 elementary, 72 junior high and 82 high school students. Homecoming week is scheduled for Sept. 8-13.
Students and staff will also see technology changes this year. New Chromebooks arrived and were being prepared for classrooms, while the district is moving toward Google Single Sign-On for student and staff accounts.
At the elementary school, restroom renovations were not expected to be finished for the first day of classes as plumbing and electrical work continued. The district is also participating in a Montana State University grant-supported project focused on place-based science education in rural schools.
Transportation was another item on the agenda. The change would add approximately 20.8 miles per day, bringing the route to about 167.1 miles daily.
Personnel items included adding Amanda Sager to the 2026-27 guest teacher list and considering extra- curricular contracts for Ronnie Shanks as junior high girls’ basketball assistant, Perla Burciaga as elementary girls’ basketball assistant and April Wills as sixth-grade class adviser. The district also reported openings for one full-time night custodian and two part-time student custodians.
The board was also scheduled for the first reading of a proposed field trip policy change. Currently, the school board approves all field trips in advance. The proposed revision would have staff submit requests to the principal, with building principals establishing procedures covering student conduct, insurance, chaperones and other requirements. A second reading would be required before the change is complete.
The junior class also requested permission to clean the gym following home contests for $150 per cleaning, with the money going toward prom expenses.
Other agenda items included adoption of the 2026-27 budget, updates to classified employment policy and the classified salary scale, discussion of the district’s 2026-27 board goals and regular financial and administrative reports.
The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 16, with board training planned before the meeting.
