03/03/2025
Tldr: MCPS Admin and Trustees are committed to educating and caring for your kids, no matter what is happening in Federal and State government right now.
Worth a read.
MCPS Community:
A few weeks ago, I emailed our community about some important challenges facing our schools. Today, I want to build on that conversation with a message of reassurance and gratitude.
We have navigated a variety of challenges in recent weeks - the least of which has been cold temperatures, abundant snow and poor road conditions. Thank you for your flexibility and collaborative effort with the weather. Spring is around the corner!
In addition to a dramatic winter, our nation has seen a steady flow of executive orders at the federal level - some related to education and others that have broad impacts on our state and our local community. There is real fear and angst being generated with real and potential job losses, threats of millions of dollars of funding cuts to our schools and universities, cutting entire government agencies, and upending years of work and collaboration for grants and other funding sources that help support our infrastructure. To add to the chaos, State level developments are unfolding daily in the legislature. It is a lot to keep up with and will certainly continue to evolve. Please know that we follow all developments closely and are in continual, collaborative communication with our partner districts and leaders across the state as we thoughtfully consider how to best support our school communities through any possible policy changes. Some developments, like the STARS Act supporting funding for new teacher pay, bring positive change. Others create uncertainty and concern among our district families, staff and community.
I won’t get too far into the political weeds on all the recent executive orders in this email but in broad terms, they relate to some critically important issues: funding, immigrant students, equity, inclusion and diversity practices, school safety and the overall structure of education at the federal level. Given the significant and consequential nature of these topics I feel some reassurance is warranted.
At the core of everything we do at MCPS lies this essential commitment: we strive to ensure that every one of our students feels safe, valued, genuinely cared for and supported. The Board of Trustees stands firmly aligned with this vision and is equally committed to maintaining our educational values during these uncertain times. This commitment will not waiver and transcends policy changes. I feel tremendously grateful and comforted that MCPS staff is such an incredible group of dedicated and caring professionals who truly care about our students. Thank you to all our staff for the very important work they do every day amidst a variety of challenges that arise.
Additionally, one of our greatest strengths lies in how we come together as a broader community. MCPS places the highest value on an ongoing collaborative effort that is based on mutual respect, compassion for others and a shared sense of genuine care and responsibility in support of our students. Every day, I witness countless examples of this. These moments - whether its students supporting a classmate who's struggling, families reaching across cultural boundaries to help each other, or teachers going the extra mile - remind me that our school community's heart and values run deep. Thank you for leading by example and cultivating these essential values. When we expect and inspire compassion and kindness from our students, we create a thriving school community.
I am deeply grateful for your continued partnership in making our schools welcoming spaces where all students can learn and grow. Thank you for your ongoing support of MCPS students!
Micah Hill
Superintendent, Missoula County Public Schools
