Answers: Common Misconceptions About the MCPS Budget Cuts

Addressing the most prevalent misconceptions about the district’s tough decisions

As many know, the Missoula County Public Schools (MCPS) district is facing major budget challenges. Complicated and emotion-filled subjects like this can often lead to misconceptions about the matter, and these need to be addressed.

 

 Misconception: Fine Arts Programs Are Being Drastically Cut

The first, and most common misconception in MCPS is that the fine arts programs are being significantly cut. Many community members are worried that their kids or family members won’t get the educational opportunities that they deserve; these community members have expressed their concern on online forums and by attending the MCPS administration meeting. 

According to r/MCPS community members (and Sentinel students):

• “They are cutting valuable art programs that a lot of students rely on and are very grateful for” (Izzy Tempel, 10)
•  “… emphasis and funds on MCPS athletics are currently prioritized and pretty much guaranteed…we cannot accept that fine arts are not equally important” (Anonymous Reddit Poster)
•  “I have heard about cutting a lot of the art programs, any trips [for] orchestra, band, theater would be cut” (Ash Goodsell, 10)
• “I don’t know about you, but as a parent of 4 children who have each spent between 4-8 years in the band or orchestra program, I have been GRATEFUL for what the MCPS fine arts department has provided for my children. I am positive that if it weren’t for this program, my children would not have experienced the success they have thus far” “…fine arts education is no longer important to the powers that be” (Anonymous Reddit Poster)

Many have equated the elimination of the Fine Arts Administrator position with cutting the entire Fine Arts program. 

This is not the case. 

This particular misconception has led to many community members speaking out against cutting the Fine Arts, even though none of those particular programs have been proposed for elimination. This misconception has led to community action such as the gathering outside of the MCPS Administration building and the massive meeting attendance on February 13th. 

MCPS Superintendent Micah Hill explained what is happening with Fine Arts: “The reality is that we didn’t cut [the program], we cut the administrator who oversees all of that. We still want to be able to have all of those same opportunities and instruction for students.” 

While none of the arts programs are being cut, they will all operate under a smaller budget in the future.  This is due to Fine Arts programs being partially funded by the expiring Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds.

This created problems for the future, but now the future has arrived. Reductions in the budget are not up to the district – MCPS is simply going back to operating on the budget it had before the COVID relief funds were available. 

In the 2024-2025 school year, almost 100 teaching positions will be cut from the whole of Missoula County. The staff cuts will also be prioritized by seniority and tenure, meaning that teachers with the newest contracts were aware that their salaries were being paid with funds that would dry up in 2024.

Misconception: Athletics Are Receiving Preferential Treatment

Athletics programs are filed under the category of “activities” at Sentinel. This category also includes Speech and Debate, Theater, as well as other clubs. 

Micah Hill touched on this aspect of the budget by stating, “We did recommend in our plan that we pull $75,000 out of the Activities budget…we are letting the building administration decide where those cuts happen”. 

There is a major difference between Athletics and Fine Arts, the former of which receives most of its money from fundraising. While this fact does suggest that there won’t be as much to take, it doesn’t mean that Athletics won’t be “trimmed”. More fundraising will have to be done if teams want to remain operating in the same way they previously have. Building administration may decide to put the $75,000 burden more heavily on one program or category that falls under the Activities department. Because sports rely more heavily on fundraising, building administration may decide to cut those programs less. 

Some solutions to handle the loss of funding include bus and event merging (one of the most noticeable differences). Stephanie Thennis, principal at Sentinel High School, thinks that simple cost-reduction and increased cost efficiency are possible routes towards more financial responsibility in the future. 

In the past Sentinel and Hellgate have not shared buses when going to the same cities (even when there were less than 20 student-athletes total traveling). For greater efficiency, the two schools may begin ride-sharing on the same bus when traveling to the same event and are at or under capacity.

Are Staff Cuts Necessary?

As for teacher funding, MCPS faces a general fund deficit of around $3 million. 90% of the school district’s annual budget goes toward paying staff. Overall, reductions are necessary, but the effect on schools will be akin to amputating a limb. There will inevitably be more strain on staff as they will need to take on the responsibilities of dismissed teachers. The challenges of running an extracurricular program will be concentrated with the cuts, and teachers will have to make some difficult adjustments. 

Teachers are essential, and the need for them doesn’t go away along with their positions. According to Micah Hill, “Teachers and principals end up becoming Jack-of-all-trades instead of focused specialists.  The ship may keep moving with a reduced crew, but not necessarily in the right direction or with great efficiency.”

There will be significant changes to the MCPS district as a whole, and they won’t go unnoticed. MCPS is facing what has been deemed a crisis by community members, and the future won’t be easy.