State School Funding Payments
The March State School Funding Payments for FY 2022 were posted at the following link: State School Payments
The March 28, 2022, payments include: Direct State Aid, Quality Educator Component, At Risk Component, Indian Education for All, Student Achievement Gap, Data for Achievement, Special Education, and Transportation.
The FY 2022 April payment is scheduled for April 26, 2022.
If you have questions regarding payments, please contact Mari Haefka at (406) 444-9852.
Retirement
Congratulations to Debbie Casey on her upcoming retirement! Debbie has been with the OPI for 27 years and retires on March 31. Debbie’s last day in the office with be March 24. Thank you, Debbie, for your service to the School Finance Unit and the assistance you have provided to Montana school districts. Debbie is looking forward to joining her husband in retirement and the new adventures they will have. We wish her the best of luck in retirement.
FY 2023 Preliminary General Fund Budget Data Sheets
The Office of Public Instruction (OPI) has posted the FY 2023 Preliminary General Fund Budget Data Sheets (PBDS) and the General Fund Budget Excel Spreadsheet to assist schools in budgeting for the 2023 fiscal year.
The Preliminary Budget Data Sheets are posted at the following link: Data Sheets
The General Fund Budget Excel Spreadsheet is posted at the following link: Spreadsheet
Note: Please download this current version of the spreadsheet to your computer (right-click on the link and choose "Save Target As" to save it to your desktop.) Previous versions of the spreadsheet are no longer applicable for preliminary budget purposes.
Other resources posted on the website:
For any additional questions, please contact Mari Haefka (406) 444-9852.
FY 2023 County Reporting Forms
The Office of Public Instruction (OPI) has posted the following FY 2023 County reports at the following link: County (mt.gov)
- County Treasurer Statement (FP6a)
- FY 2023 Countywide School Funds (FB6b)
- Joint District Basic Data (FP8a)
- Joint District Tax Levy Summary (FP8b)
For any additional questions, please contact Mari Haefka (406) 444-9852
FY 2023 Special Education Cooperative Reports
The Office of Public Instruction (OPI) has posted the FY 2023 Special Education Allowable Cost Funding Cooperative Preliminary reports at the following link: State School Payments (mt.gov)
For any additional questions, please contact Mari Haefka (406) 444-9852
FY2023 Indirect Cost Rate Applications Available
Districts that plan to charge indirect costs (e.g., general administration, accounting services, and personnel services) to FY2023 federal and state grant awards must complete an indirect cost rate application form. The application for an indirect cost rate does not increase the amount of the grant award. The closing date for applying for an Indirect Cost Rate is April 30th, which is compatible with the e-grants system.
The U.S. Department of Education renewed the indirect cost agreement effective for FY2021. Consequently, some aspects of the indirect calculation have changed with this application round:
- School Systems enrolling greater than 2,600 students must redirect costs associated with business manager salary and benefits to direct and unallowable.
- Indirect Cost Rates will be awarded per school system rather than by LE.
- The use of a carry forward calculation has been eliminated. The calculation has been replaced with a five-year rolling average with a 5% discount.
Please review Indirect Cost Rate Instructions and additional documentation for more details. The Indirect Cost Rate Application and resources for FY2023 are available on the OPI website.
Indirect Cost Rate Cover Letter (please read)
Schedule A, shows preliminary rates.
Certification forms
If you reclassify costs to adjust the indirect cost rate, please read the Indirect Cost Rate Instructions prior to reclassification of costs for an adjusted rate. A reclassification calculator is available for aiding in the determination of an adjusted indirect cost rate.
If you have questions about how to complete the indirect cost rate application, please contact: Barbara Quinn, School Finance Senior Manager, 406-444-3249.
Updating Contact Information
All school districts please go to the OPI website - Directory of Montana Schools - to verify your schools’ information. The instructions on how to update your schools’ information can be found at the following link: Instructions.
If you have question about how to complete the updates, please contact: CentralUpdates@mt.gov
School Elections
Upcoming Election Deadlines:
- Thursday, December 9 through Thursday, March 24 – Trustee candidates file for election
- Thursday, March 31 (by 5:00 pm) – Last day for a candidate to withdraw from the election
- Thursday, March 31 (by 5:00 pm) – Deadline to file as a write-in candidate
- Friday, April 1 – Deadline to notify election judges
- Friday, April 1 – Ballot certification
- Friday, April 1 – Election by Acclamation and Cancellation of the trustee election
- Monday, April 4 – Close of regular voter registration (obtain absentee list from county)
- Monday, April 4 – Not more than 30 days before the election conduct a performance test and certification of voting system
- Tuesday, April 5 – Start of late registration
- Thursday, March 24-Saturday, April 23 – Notice of election is posted
- Wednesday, April 13 – Absentee ballots available
- Wednesday, April 13 through Monday, April 18 – Mail ballots mailed
- Saturday, April 23 through Sunday, May 1
- Absentee/mail ballot counting notice
- Polling location accessibility notice
- Publication of information concerning voting systems
The OPI, in coordination with MASBO, will again be conducting bi-weekly check-in meetings during the election season. The plan was to record these meetings, but, unfortunately, that will not be possible. Here is the schedule for those meetings:
- March 25 – Ballot Certification; Late Registration
- April 8 – Election Notices; Early Voting
- April 22 – Preparing for Election Day
- May 6 – Election Wrap Up
The Zoom link will be available on the MASBO website.
Questions: For information on School Elections, please contact: Nicole Thuotte, Financial Specialist, 406-444-4524.
Extracurricular Activities Participation
Students participating in extracurricular activities in the 21-22 school year and who meet the requirements of 20-9-311(13), MCA may be included in the district’s FY 23 ANB count. The students must be enrolled in AIM and have their participating data entered as part of the End of Year collection. The guide to entering that information in AIM may be found here: AIM Extracurricular Activities Guide. Additionally, the AIM staff will be conducting a webinar on how to enter this information on Thursday, April 21 at 2:30 pm. Use the following link to join the webinar:
https://mt-gov.zoom.us/j/85258799200?pwd=cHJYWEdQZTJCNVFCZXFxVGtZaVZWUT09
Meeting ID: 852 5879 9200 Password: 264090
Dial by Telephone +1 646 558 8656 or +1 406 444 9999
Questions: For information on Extracurricular Activities Participation, please contact: Nicole Thuotte, Financial Specialist, 406-444-4524.
ESSA Per Pupil Expenditure Reporting
To help prepare districts for FY 23 financial reporting School Finance staff will be presenting live webinars on ESSA Per Pupil Expenditure Reporting. We have chosen three different dates to allow for maximum participation. Please plan on joining us for one of these webinars and bring your questions!
- Tuesday, April 5 at 10:00 am
- Monday, April 11 at 2:00 pm
- Thursday, April 14 at 10:00 am
The link for each webinar will be posted on the ESSA Per Pupil webpage: School Finance- ESSA (mt.gov)
Questions: For information on ESSA Per Pupil Expenditure Reporting, please contact: Nicole Thuotte, Financial Specialist, 406-444-4524.
Impact Aid Application Amendments
Amendments to FY 23 Impact Aid applications will be accepted through June 30, 2022. If your district needs to make corrections to the FY 23 application or if the district needs to take advantage of the Flexibility Act for FY 23, complete an application amendment through the IAGS system. Instructions for completing an amendment may be found here: https://impactaid.ed.gov/training-amendments/. And more information about the Flexibility Act for FY 23 may be found here: https://impactaid.ed.gov/supplemental-impact-aid-flexibility-act/.
Questions: For information on Impact Aid reporting, please contact: Nicole Thuotte, Financial Specialist, 406-444-4524.
2022 Montana School Bus Standards
Extended Stop Arm: When a school bus route includes a bus stop that requires a child to cross a roadway, the school bus must be equipped with an extended stop arm that partially obstructs the roadway. A school child may not cross a roadway to enter or exit from a school bus unless the roadway has been partially obstructed by the extended stop arm. 61-8-351, MCA. Effective July 1, 2022.
Extended Stop Arm must:
- Be equipped with additional flashing red lights as specified in 61-9-402, MCA.
- Be capable of extending a distance of at least 54 inches from the school bus.
- Be at a height of not less than 36 inches.
- Should have an additional illuminated stop sign located at the furthest distance from the school bus.
The board of trustees of a school district shall approve all school bus stops requiring a child to cross a roadway.
The specifications for the extended stop arm can be reviewed in the 2022 School Bus Standards on page 40.
School districts may use the Transportation Fund (10) or the Bus Depreciation Fund (11) for the purchase of the extended stop arms on school buses.
Additional Flashing Red Lights
20-10-111, MCA and 61-9-402, MCA now authorizes the use of four or more flashing red lights on school buses, and placement of flashing red lights. The specifications for the additional lights can be reviewed in the 2022 School Bus Standards on pages 32-33.
Questions: For information on the School Bus Standards and new laws, please contact: Donell Rosenthal, Director of Pupil Transportation (406) 422-0320
The OPI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, require an alternate format, or have questions concerning accessibility, contact the OPI ADA Coordinator, 406-444-3161, opiada@mt.gov, Relay Service: 711.
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