February 2008:
MTSBA is a member of the Montana Quality Education Coalition and a named plaintiff in active school finance litigation in Montana. Along with MQEC and other names plaintiffs, we obtained a decision of both the district and Montana Supreme courts that the State was not meeting its constitutional responsibilities under Article X of the Montana Constitution. Since that decision, the State has had two bienniums to restore constitutionality to the system.
MQEC and other named plaintiffs recently filed a petition before the court seeking a declaration that the state has not yet fully complied with its constitutional obligations and seeking relief for schools in the FY09 school year. We will be using this page to update our members regarding the renewed litigation over the coming months.
Resources:
- Petition for relief filed by MQEC before District Court Judge Sherlock
- State's Reply to Petition
- February 2008 - Governor's letter to Attorney General McGrath setting forth the state's assertions of compliance with the Court's earlier decision in Columbia Falls Elementary v. State
- February 2008 - MTSBA PowerPoint on school funding and community engagement - Note Accreditation Slide has been updated.
- 2007 Legislative Session Bill Summary
- 2004 - Judge Sherlock's opinion in Columbia Falls Elementary v. State
- 2005 - Montana Supreme Court pleadings in Columbia Falls Elementary v. State
- 2005 - Quality Schools Interim Committee Link