Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. The Liberty Elementary School District is a K-8 educational system which operates according to the following organizational structure. Governance of all School District matters is under the direction of the locally elected Board of Trustees.  While in session at regularly scheduled monthly meetings, the Board of Trustees provides oversight and guidance related to a variety of educational services delivered to District students in accordance with Federal law, State law, District policy and best professional practice models.

The Board of Trustees approves a comprehensive District Policy Manual which is intended to provide guidance to all District personnel in their respective positions as they implement the Board’s mission, vision and goals on a day-to-day basis. Updates to the District Policy Manual are approved by the Board on a regular and routine basis to ensure that the District remains in compliance with Montana Law, conforms to recommendations received from the Office of Public Instruction, and regularly adopts best practices which are part of the recognized standards of the education profession. In addition, the District employs the services of a professional education consultant who advises the Board and Superintendent on a variety of policy, procedural or compliance issues. The District also maintains annual membership in the Montana School Boards Association (MTSBA), the Montana Small Schools Alliance (MSSA) and the Montana Rural Education Association (MREA), all of which provide the District with access to resources and services intended to keep the Board, Superintendent and Staff aware of all educational matters likely to impact teaching and learning within the District schools.

Yes. In conjunction with the responsibilities of the Board, management and administrative services are provided to the District by a Superintendent of Schools. In addition to the Board and the Superintendent, the District employs a fulltime Clerk/Business Manager who is part of the administrative team, as well as an independent educational consulting firm who advises the Board on a variety of educational, and operational issues.

Yes. The Board of Trustees is also responsible for approving and administering the annual operational budget as calculated by the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) in relation to the annual enrollment within the District.  Student enrollment numbers, as reflected in the Annual Number Belonging (ANB) calculations, make up the basis of the funding and annual operating budget for the District.

No. As part of the annual budget allocation, the District, through formal agreements with each of the colony communities who financed the initial construction of and who own the school buildings where the five (5) schools are located, provides a very modest annual lease payment to the colonies for use of the buildings and grounds provided to the District by each of the four colonies receiving educational services. In addition to providing the physical built space for each of the schools, the colonies also provide, at no additional expense to the District, critical infrastructure support to the District in the form of building custodial services, grounds keeping, routine maintenance/repairs, and security, all while guaranteeing regular and consistent access to each school building and associated classrooms. In relation to the annual lease agreements, each of the colony sites also pays all related costs and expenses of the utility usage (electrical, gas and water) at each location.

Kindergarten through grade eight educational and classroom instructional services are provided to students at five (5) separate sites located at Eagle Creek, Riverview, Hi Line, Hillside and Rimrock Colony schools. Certified, licensed and endorsed classroom teachers are employed by the Board as professional educators in each of the District Elementary Classrooms. Supporting the classroom teachers at each school location are trained classified staff who assist with the day-to-day needs of the students, and who, along with the classroom teacher, work to promote greater understanding, retention and completion of the instructional curriculum adopted by the District. The District maintains a well-defined instructional curriculum which is in alignment with the standards and practices outlined by the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI).

Yes. Liberty Elementary School District has adopted an educational curriculum which is aligned to both State of Montana and national education standards. Classroom instruction in all associated subjects, grade levels and student performance measures are in accordance with the recently approved (Montana OPI and Federal) Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Teaching across the curriculum in classrooms at each of the District schools requires certified staff who have a demonstrated ability to teach and facilitate learning by students from several grade levels (K-8) simultaneously, within the same physical space while addressing the specific educational needs of individual students.

Students enrolled in the District are provided an opportunity to study and learn in a classroom environment which is familiar, secure, safe and academically and culturally appropriate. Within the context of student achievement and measurement, all students, regardless of grade level, participate in academic instruction and programs which are geared toward promoting intellectual mastery of recognized concepts, skills and information. Unlike many public education classrooms within comparable size schools and Districts, the instructional staff at Liberty Elementary School District are afforded an opportunity to focus almost entirely on instruction, teaching and learning as opposed to excessive time spent on classroom management and corrective actions aimed at improving disruptive student behavior.

Yes. A review of annual student achievement and performance measures as determined by a variety of standardized testing procedures in alignment with state and federal requirements, at all grade levels and across all schools indicate that students enrolled at Liberty Elementary School District continue to rank at or above state and federal standards within each of the fields of academic performance. As reflected on the most current Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) Accreditation Status Report as compiled and reported to the Board in the System Level Summary, Student Performance Standards (SBAC) remain consistently at the “Regular” levels (greater than 15% proficient).

Yes. Liberty Elementary School District, like other school districts across the state and nation who have a student population whose primary language is something other than English, receive additional funding support to provide language fluency programing to students identified as English Learners (EL). English language learners are school-aged children whose English proficiency, or lack thereof, affects their academic excellence and ability to equally participate in academic programs like mathematics, reading/language arts, science, and social studies. Proficiency in a language is a measure of a person’s. ability to understand and communicate in that language or in a person’s preferred mode of communication.

As a majority of students enrolled within the district share a similar cultural background (Hutterite) and use a common primary language other than English (German-Hutterisch) in their households, the district receives additional funding provided by the State of Montana in support of individual student English Language Learners (ELL) who receive additional instructional supports in the acquisition of English fluency.

Despite the challenges presented by managing the scope of educational services that are delivered to the comparatively small student population within the District, along with the rural location of the remote classroom sites, annual per student budget allocations and related expenditures indicate that under the guidance of the Board of Trustees and  the Superintendent, the District continues to demonstrate responsible appropriation and accountability for the public finances entrusted to the District in ensuring that students receive continued expansion of learning opportunities.

Yes. In conjunction with the standard educational curriculum provided by the public education system, students attending Liberty Elementary School District are also dually enrolled in a traditional “German School” curriculum which, although independent from the conventional public instruction model, acts as a compliment to and extension of the state and federal curriculum. As the entire enrollment of the District qualifies categorically as English Language Lerner (ELL) students, exposure to concepts, ideas and information which has been translated from their primary language (German- Hutterisch), assists students in connecting vocabulary, mathematical formulas, grammar, and related cross-cultural knowledge through their bi-lingual education.

Instruction in the German school curriculum is the sole responsibility of the colony community who selects, manages and supports the position of a German language and culture instructor. Collaboration between the public school certified and classified support staff with the German school instructor in sharing curricular resources and materials provides a vital link to connecting student progress, growth and mastery of the instructional concepts being taught in each area, while reinforcing the awareness and understanding of all classroom teachers of each individual student’s strengths and weaknesses. Under the guidance of Montana’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) model, Local Education Associations (LEAs) may also offer EL programs that include grade-level content instruction in the student’s primary language.

No. By state law and District policy, each of the schools which are part of the school system maintain an open enrollment option for all students who are a resident and living within the borders of the established school District and who register through statutory enrollment practices with the County Superintendent of Schools. Students who do not reside within the district may, in accordance with District policy, petition the Board of Trustees for possible admission.

The District strives to maintain effective two-way communication channels with the public.  Such channels shall enable the Board and staff to interpret the schools' needs to the community and provide a means for citizens to express their needs and expectations to the Board and staff.

Community opinion may be solicited through parent organizations, parent-teacher conferences, open houses and other such events or activities which may bring staff and citizens together.  Survey instruments and/or questionnaires may be developed to gain a broad perspective of community opinion.

The Board of Trustees has the authority to judge whether information shall be considered public or confidential.  Information considered public will be provided or available to the press via news releases, interview or other appropriate methods.  Confidential information that might infringe on the privacy rights of individuals will not be made public.

The District shall operate in compliance with local, state and federal laws and regulations.  The District will have available a copy of the District's policy and procedure manual.  Rules and regulations of the Board of Public Education (Title 10 ARM) and the School Laws of Montana (MCA) shall be available from the District’s Board of Trustees and also from the County Superintendent's office.  These publications shall be made available for use by staff, students, and interested citizens.

When reviewing standardized testing data and student assessment and participation results compiled by the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) on an annual basis for grades K-8 in the Liberty School District, the results over the previous five (5) years demonstrate that District students consistently score well above the state percentages in student attendance, and at or near the performance levels of their peers statewide in the areas of mathematics, reading and science achievement.  Upon direct comparison of these performance outcomes in relation to per-pupil expenditures of the financial supports allocated to the local educational system, Liberty School District achieves similar student performance results while spending nearly twenty percent (20%) less per-pupil than their counterparts statewide.

Despite the challenges presented by managing the scope of educational services that are delivered to the comparatively small student population within the District, along with the rural location of the remote classroom sites, annual per student budget allocations and related expenditures indicate that under the guidance of the Board of Trustees and the Superintendent, the District continues to demonstrate responsible appropriation and accountability for the public finances entrusted to the District in ensuring that students receive continued expansion of learning opportunities.

Kindergarten through grade eight educational and classroom instructional services are provided to students at the five (5) separate sites located at Eagle Creek, Riverview, Hi Line, Hillside and Rimrock Colony schools. Certified, licensed and endorsed classroom teachers are employed by the Board as professional educators in each of the District Elementary Classrooms. Supporting the classroom teachers at each school location are trained classified staff who assist with the day-to-day needs of the students, and who, along with the classroom teacher, work to promote greater understanding, retention and completion of the instructional curriculum adopted by the District. The District maintains a well-defined instructional curriculum which is in alignment with the standards and practices outlined by the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI).

In addition, Liberty Elementary School District has adopted an educational curriculum which is aligned to both State of Montana and national standards. Classroom instruction in all associated subjects, grade levels and student performance measures are in accordance with the recently approved (Montana OPI) Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Teaching across the curriculum in classrooms at each of the District schools requires certified staff who have a demonstrated ability to teach and facilitate learning by students from several grade levels (K-8) simultaneously, within the same physical space while addressing the specific educational needs of individual students.

Students enrolled in the District are provided an opportunity to study and learn in a classroom environment which is familiar, secure, safe and academically and culturally appropriate. Within the context of student achievement and measurement, all students, regardless of grade level, participate in academic instruction and programs which are geared toward promoting intellectual mastery of recognized concepts, skills and information. Unlike many public education classrooms within comparable size schools and Districts, the instructional staff at Liberty Elementary School District are afforded an opportunity to focus almost entirely on instruction, teaching and learning as opposed to excessive time spent on classroom management and corrective actions aimed at improving disruptive student behavior.

On a yearly basis, the property tax assessment levied on local landowners with holdings in Liberty County are utilized to support the operations of not only the Liberty School District, but revenue is also applied to the annual operating budget of the Chester-Joplin-Inverness (CJI) School system even though there is no direct benefit to the students enrolled at Liberty District Schools. In a typical school funding cycle, the primary local landowner (taxpayer) that contributes to the property tax base for the school district is Eagle Creek Colony and its related business subsidiaries. The distribution of property tax assessments which are allocated to the Liberty School District represent only 33% of the total property tax assessment paid to Liberty county. The remaining tax support, 66% that is paid on an annual basis goes directly to support school operations within the CJI District.

The county superintendent of school has a very limited role as proscribed by statute, providing general supervision of the schools located in the county as outlined in 20-3-205 and 20-3-206, MCA. Other duties found in state law include chairing the county transportation committee, acting as attendance officer for a third-class school district, if one is not appointed, serving as clerk of a joint board of trustees, and assisting trustees with school supervision if a district superintendent or principal is not employed there. The county superintendent is an elected position and must be a qualified elector, hold a valid Montana teaching or administrative certificate, and have at least (three) 3 years of successful teaching experience.