Gardiner Schools Loses Millions Of District Funding
GARDINER -
For nearly 40 years the Gardiner School district has been receiving thousands of dollars of funding from the U.S. Department of the Interior and now due to an overlook that funding has stopped.
"The claim is there is a current outstanding debt from anywhere from 7 to 10 million dollars that either has to be paid back or forgiven," said JT Stroder, Gardiner Schools Superintendent.
The money was given to the school district as part of a federal law passed in 1948 that helped provide education to children living on untaxed federal land in the Yellowstone National Park.
The law changed in 1977 and that's when payments were supposed to stop. Since then, the school district has been receiving $500,000 per year broken into two payments of $400,000 in November and $100,000 in the summer.
Gardiner Schools Superintendent, JT Stroder said that funding accounted for 20% of the schools annual budget.
"I think there could of been more done to ensure that the level of service we've been providing those students was the same until this was resolved," said Stroder.
And now with it gone, he said some things could be cut from the district.
"Basketball is currently at stake," said Stroder. "Pretty much all district travel related to professional development is canceled, most field trips are canceled and we're considering track. We haven't made a decision yet, but right now everything is on the table."
Julie Rehmer is a parent of 12-year-old that is expected to start track this spring.
"He's looking forward to track and other sports. I would just be very devastated and he would be too if the program gets cut," said Rehmer.
And students are bummed that their sports might be cut.
"It would be awful because tract is really what I look forward to at the end of the school year," said Zac Macy, student.
"It would be terrible if it was cut because track is really important to me," said Emma Burke, student.
The West Yellowstone school district is also affected by the cutting of these funds. The Montana delegation is trying to negotiate with the Department of the Interior to find a solution that could possibly include debt forgiveness.
Wednesday, April 25 2018 7:58 PM EDT2018-04-25 23:58:38 GMT
Thursday, April 26 2018 10:54 AM EDT2018-04-26 14:54:31 GMT
(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu). This Wednesday, April 25, 2018 photo shows a copy of the book "I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer" by Michelle McNamara at a Books Inc. bookstore in San Francisco. California authori...
Comedian Patton Oswalt proudly and tenderly praises his late wife for her work on the Golden State Killer case.
Comedian Patton Oswalt proudly and tenderly praises his late wife for her work on the Golden State Killer case.
Thursday, April 26 2018 12:08 AM EDT2018-04-26 04:08:35 GMT
Thursday, April 26 2018 10:53 AM EDT2018-04-26 14:53:52 GMT
(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File). FILE - In this April 16, 2018, file photo, Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's personal attorney, center, leaves federal court, in New York. A New York judge wants more information from prosecutors and lawyers for Pr...
A lawyer for Donald Trump says the president is ready to offer his opinion on what evidence seized from his personal attorney's home and office are protected by attorney-client privilege.
A lawyer for Donald Trump says the president is ready to offer his opinion on what evidence seized from his personal attorney's home and office are protected by attorney-client privilege.
Thursday, April 26 2018 3:08 AM EDT2018-04-26 07:08:34 GMT
Thursday, April 26 2018 10:54 AM EDT2018-04-26 14:54:10 GMT
(AP Photo/Matt York). Teachers from Highland Arts Elementary School stage a final walk-in Wednesday, April 25, 2018, in Mesa, Ariz. Communities and school districts are preparing for a historic statewide teacher walkout on Thursday that could keep hund...
Tens of thousands of schoolteachers are walking off the job in Colorado and Arizona, though their demands and state laws on walkouts differ.
Tens of thousands of schoolteachers are walking off the job in Colorado and Arizona, though their demands and state laws on walkouts differ.
Thursday, April 26 2018 2:38 AM EDT2018-04-26 06:38:37 GMT
Thursday, April 26 2018 10:54 AM EDT2018-04-26 14:54:00 GMT
(AP Photo/Matt York). Highland Arts Elementary School kindergarten teacher Melissa Perez participates in a final walk-in Wednesday, April 25, 2018, in Mesa, Ariz. Communities and school districts are preparing for a historic statewide teacher walkout o...
Tens of thousands of teachers in Arizona and Colorado will shut down schools to protest low pay and funding.
Tens of thousands of teachers in Arizona and Colorado will shut down schools to protest low pay and funding.
Wednesday, April 25 2018 11:19 PM EDT2018-04-26 03:19:09 GMT
Thursday, April 26 2018 10:52 AM EDT2018-04-26 14:52:57 GMT
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey). Waffle House employee Stan Brudnicki wears a ribbon on his uniform to honor shooting victims Wednesday, April 25, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. The restaurant re-opened Wednesday after four people were killed by a gunman Sunday.
A Nashville community has rallied to support the victims of a weekend shooting at a Waffle House by stopping by to get a meal after the restaurant re-opened.
A Nashville community has rallied to support the victims of a weekend shooting at a Waffle House by stopping by to get a meal after the restaurant re-opened.