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Montana Small Schools Alliance

February 7, 2012

Hello Folks!

MSSA has launched a private social website for member teachers to share information pertinent to their positions in the rural schools. The home page holds the link to the website and you can request acceptance there. Please do!

A team of eight member teachers and myself will begin a review and conversion process aligning our curriculum to the Common Core standards soon to be adopted by Montana. Two instructors from Beaverhead County High School have been added to assist the director in review of high school standards and curriculum. More on this subject as we move along.

The Class "C" Schools financial data summary is complete. We have 44 schools who have returned the survey. Thanks to all who took the time. The support staff pages are updated thanks to our Office Manager, Linda Sunderlin and you will find them much more user friendly. Those who completed the survey received this year's edition free of charge!

Thanks to Dr. Jayne Downey of MSU Bozeman for hosting our board meeting on the 25th of January.

I was in Washington D.C. advocating for Montana rural education through the National Rural Education Advocacy Coalition on January 31st and February 1st. Of utmost attention was the reauthorization of ESEA and NCLB. After visits with pertinent staff personnel and our state's representation in Washington it is pretty clear that any movement on either issue is very remote during this election cycle. We continue to press for a focused office within the current framework of the Department of Education dedicated to rural students nationwide. This initiative was at the urging and sponsor of Senator Max Baucus with broadbased support. New student growth in America has 70 percent of those students settling in rural areas so the need will only become greater.

Director's Schedule:

February 7    -    Dillon
February 8    -    Dillon

Our Office Manager, Linda Sunderlin works from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday each week. I am in the office Tuesday and Wednesday and some Thursdays. Please use my email or cell number (406-221-6303) to contact me directly if I am not available at the office. Thanks!

As always, "Our students are worth the effort".

Sincerely,
Dan Rask, Director
MSSA

University of Montana--Western, 710 South Atlantic Street, Dillon, MT 59725-0063 Phone: (406) 683-2685 (Office), (406) 683-2682 (Fax)