The June 17, 2026 Shepherd School District Board meeting focuses on preparing the district for the 2026-2027 school year through personnel decisions, annual contract renewals, insurance approvals, curriculum purchases, facility improvements, and updates to student and athletic handbooks. The meeting also includes reports from district leadership covering academics, athletics, transportation, nursing, and operations.
Several items involve recurring annual commitments that support day-to-day district operations. Trustees are scheduled to consider renewing property, liability, and workers' compensation coverage through MSGIA, approving statewide association dues and athletic insurance, renewing the School Resource Officer agreement with Yellowstone County, continuing Comprehensive School and Community Treatment (CSCT) mental health services through YBGR, and approving athletic training services through Athletic Medicine and Performance.
Facility maintenance remains a significant priority. The board is considering replacing worn flooring in several elementary classrooms and an art room using competitive quotes ranging from approximately $22,205 to just over $26,000 depending on materials and vendor. The district also plans to purchase additional K-8 math curriculum resources using SRSA grant funding rather than local operating dollars.
Personnel recommendations include hiring kitchen staff and volunteer coaches while also accepting an assistant cook resignation. Additional governance matters include handbook revisions, election administration agreements with Yellowstone County, committee updates, and transferring any remaining General Fund balance into the district's Fund 182 multidistrict agreement if funds remain available at fiscal year-end.
Major Discussion and Action Items
Human Resources and Staffing
The board is expected to consider hiring Heather Lear as a full-time assistant cook, Julie Hummer as a part-time kitchen helper pending background clearance, Andrew Bailey as volunteer girls flag football coach, Robbie Lindsay as volunteer high school volleyball coach, and additional coaches listed in supporting documentation. Trustees will also review the resignation of Assistant Cook Beth Campbell. These staffing actions help prepare food service and extracurricular programs before the new school year.
Annual Insurance and Risk Management Renewals
The district recommends renewing property, liability, and workers' compensation coverage with MSGIA for fiscal year 2026-2027. These annual renewals protect district facilities, employees, and operations from financial risks while satisfying legal and operational requirements. The board will also consider renewing trustee insurance through MTSBA.
Student Safety, Security, and Mental Health
The proposed Memorandum of Understanding with Yellowstone County would continue School Resource Officer services for 2026-2027 at a district cost of $39,510.00. Separately, trustees are asked to renew the YBGR CSCT contract, allowing licensed mental health practitioners and behavioral aides to continue providing school-based behavioral health services for eligible students in school, at home, or in community settings.
Curriculum Investments
Administrators recommend purchasing additional K-8 mathematics instructional resources using SRSA grant funding. Materials include Go Math for elementary grades and Into Math for grades 6-8. Because grant funds are proposed for the purchase, the instructional investment is intended to strengthen classroom resources without increasing pressure on the district's general operating budget.
Facilities and Flooring Improvements
The district proposes replacing aging flooring in elementary classrooms E155, E164, E165 and installing vinyl flooring in part of room E197. Competitive quotations include Murray Flooring options ranging from approximately $25,692.87 to $26,019.25 depending on flooring type, while Fischer Flooring submitted a combined proposal of approximately $22,205.00. Administrators note that replacing several rooms each year spreads maintenance costs over time instead of requiring a much larger district-wide flooring project.
Athletic Programs and Student Activities
The board will review MHSA membership dues and athletic insurance totaling $5,394, including $4,750 in membership dues for 19 sports, $503 for catastrophic insurance, and $141 for concussion insurance. Trustees will also consider renewing Athletic Medicine and Performance (AMP) contracts to provide athletic training coverage during the coming school year.
Student Handbooks and Operational Policies
Updated High School and Coach/Advisor handbooks are presented with proposed revisions highlighted for the 2026-2027 school year. These annual updates establish expectations for students, coaches, advisors, and extracurricular programs before the new academic year begins.
Financial Matters
Several significant financial actions appear on the agenda:
- Renewal of School Resource Officer services with Yellowstone County for $39,510.00.
- Approval of MHSA athletic participation dues and insurance totaling $5,394.00.
- Consideration of annual property, liability, and workers' compensation insurance through MSGIA.
- Approval of MTSBA membership dues and trustee insurance.
- Purchase of additional elementary and middle school math curriculum using SRSA grant funding.
- Flooring replacement proposals ranging from approximately $22,205.00 to $26,019.25, depending on vendor and flooring materials.
- Proposed transfer of any remaining General Fund balance into Fund 182, the multidistrict agreement fund, if surplus funds remain at the close of the fiscal period.
- Routine approval of business claims, financial statements, reconciliation reports, food service reports, and monthly financial activity reports through the consent agenda.
Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance
The board will review revised High School and Coach/Advisor handbooks for implementation during the 2026-2027 school year. Annual governance actions also include approval of MTSBA membership and trustee insurance, an election administration contract defining responsibilities between Yellowstone County and the district for future school elections, and updates to standing committee assignments. The meeting also follows Montana's public meeting procedures, including a Hearing of the Public during which comments may be received but action cannot legally be taken on topics not appearing on the agenda.
Board members will receive reports from the superintendent, elementary, middle school, and high school principals, athletic director, transportation director, nursing staff, and student council president.
Athletics highlights include recognition of the Shepherd Fillies' second consecutive state softball championship, Coach Goddell being named Class B Softball Coach of the Year for the third straight year, state golf and track medalists, and numerous Montana High School Association updates affecting wrestling, football, volleyball, basketball, golf, cross country, coaching requirements, and student-athlete safety.
Additional informational items include building use requests, water quality reporting, district attendance and financial data, transportation updates, nursing information, election administration planning, and routine operational reports supporting board oversight.
Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters
Personnel actions include:
- Acceptance of Beth Campbell's resignation as Assistant Cook.
- Proposed hiring of Heather Lear as full-time Assistant Cook.
- Proposed hiring of Julie Hummer as part-time Kitchen Helper pending background clearance.
- Proposed appointment of volunteer coaches Andrew Bailey and Robbie Lindsay.
- Approval of additional coaching assignments listed in supporting documentation.
- Standing committee updates identifying board member assignments for the coming year.
These actions prepare instructional, extracurricular, and food service operations for the upcoming academic year.
Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations
The most significant operational project involves replacing worn flooring in selected elementary classrooms and installing vinyl flooring where appropriate. Administrators explain that replacing several classrooms annually reduces the likelihood of much larger deferred maintenance expenses later.
Operational matters also include continuation of School Resource Officer services, renewal of CSCT behavioral health services, transportation updates, water quality monitoring, building scheduling requests, and athletic training coverage. Together, these items support ongoing school operations rather than major capital construction.
The agenda includes a Hearing of the Public. Residents may address matters within the board's jurisdiction that are not already on the agenda, subject to Montana public meeting rules and district procedures. Speakers may not comment on confidential personnel matters, individual students, or pending adjudicative cases. The board may also invite public comment before taking action on agenda items.
Meeting Date:
- June 17, 2026
- 6:30 PM
- Shepherd Public Schools District #37 Board Room
- 7842 Shepherd Road, Shepherd, Montana
Students and families may see updated instructional materials, revised student handbook expectations, continued mental health services, athletic training support, and ongoing School Resource Officer coverage.
Employees are affected through staffing actions, insurance renewals, operational funding decisions, and handbook revisions governing extracurricular programs.
Taxpayers benefit from annual oversight of insurance, contracts, maintenance projects, and grant-funded curriculum purchases intended to reduce pressure on local operating funds.
Athletes, coaches, and extracurricular participants may experience changes associated with MHSA requirements, updated coaching guidance, continued medical coverage, and expanded athletic safety practices.
- Why was the out-of-district student application recommended for denial?
- What factors led administrators to recommend the selected flooring proposal?
- How will the new math curriculum improve instruction and student achievement?
- What measurable outcomes does the district expect from continued CSCT services?
- What services are included within the $39,510 School Resource Officer agreement?
- Are any significant insurance premium changes occurring compared with last year?
- Which handbook revisions will have the greatest impact on students or staff?
- What long-term flooring replacement schedule is planned for remaining classrooms?
- How much funding remains available in the General Fund before any proposed transfer to Fund 182?
- What transportation or operational challenges were highlighted in departmental reports?
Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps
- June 17, 2026: Board considers personnel, contracts, insurance renewals, curriculum purchases, facility improvements, handbook revisions, and operational recommendations.
- 2026-2027 School Year: Proposed contracts, staffing actions, handbook revisions, insurance coverage, athletic services, and student support agreements would become effective following board approval.
- Late July 2026: Policy Committee is expected to meet during the final two weeks of July.
- Throughout 2026-2027: Standing committees will meet according to their established schedules as needed.
Key Takeaways
- The meeting prepares the district for the 2026-2027 school year.
- Trustees will consider a $39,510 School Resource Officer agreement.
- MHSA dues and athletic insurance total $5,394.
- Annual insurance renewals are scheduled for board approval.
- Grant funding would support new K-8 math curriculum resources.
- Elementary flooring replacement is proposed using competitive vendor quotes.
- Mental health services through YBGR CSCT are recommended for renewal.
- Student and coach handbooks are being updated before the school year begins.
- Food service staffing and volunteer coaching appointments are on the agenda.
- Routine financial reports, claims, and operational updates accompany the board's annual planning activities.
Official Sources
About the Public Body
- Name: Shepherd School District
- Organization type: school-district
- Government body: school-boards
- Location: Shepherd, montana
- County: Yellowstone
- Provider: simbli
Keywords
Shepherd School District, Shepherd Board of Trustees, June 17 2026 board meeting, Yellowstone County, Montana schools, superintendent report, elementary principal, middle school principal, high school principal, athletic director, transportation, CSCT, YBGR, School Resource Officer, Yellowstone County SRO, MSGIA insurance, MHSA dues, MTSBA, Go Math, Into Math, flooring replacement, elementary classrooms, athletic training, AMP contract, handbook revisions, personnel hiring, school finance, Fund 182, public education
