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.
Monday, April 21 2014 3:53 AM EDT2014-04-21 07:53:25 GMT
Officials say a 16-year-old boy is "lucky to be alive" and unharmed after flying from California to Hawaii stowed away in a plane's wheel well, surviving cold temperatures at 38,000 feet and a lack of oxygen.
Officials say a 16-year-old boy is "lucky to be alive" and unharmed after flying from California to Hawaii stowed away in a plane's wheel well, surviving cold temperatures at 38,000 feet and a lack of oxygen.
Monday, April 21 2014 3:44 AM EDT2014-04-21 07:44:27 GMT
Thirty years ago, big media companies failed to convince the Supreme Court of the threat posed by home video recordings.
Thirty years after failing to convince the Supreme Court of the threat posed by home video recordings, big media companies are back and now trying to rein in another technological innovation they say threatens their...
Monday, April 21 2014 3:43 AM EDT2014-04-21 07:43:53 GMT
NASA's small moon-orbiting spacecraft LADEE (pronounced LAH'-dee) is no more. Flight controllers confirmed early Friday that LADEE crashed into the back side of the moon.
Monday, April 21 2014 3:43 AM EDT2014-04-21 07:43:50 GMT
What's happening in this Wyoming resort town might be better described as a land creep than a landslide, but the lack of speed has not hindered the sheer power of the moving earth.
What's happening in this Wyoming resort town might be better described as a land creep than a landslide, but the lack of speed has not hindered the sheer power of the moving earth.
Tuesday, April 15 2014 7:59 PM EDT2014-04-15 23:59:30 GMT
KHQ.COM - It was a sight to behold! The blood moon lit up the heavens last night. If you slept thru it, no need to worry! We recorded the whole thing for you and many of our Facebook friends and viewers have shared the photos that they captured of the total lunar eclipse last night!
KHQ.COM - It was a sight to behold! The blood moon lit up the heavens last night. If you slept thru it, no need to worry! We recorded the whole thing for you and many of our Facebook friends and viewers have shared the photos that they captured of the total lunar eclipse last night!
Friday, April 18 2014 4:21 PM EDT2014-04-18 20:21:35 GMT
MOKPO, South Korea (AP) - Searchers have now put markers on the surface of the water where the South Korean ferry went down. Part of the ship had remained above the surface until today, but now the entire vessel is submerged. They're continuing the effort to find some 270 people who are missing and feared dead.
MOKPO, South Korea (AP) - Searchers have now put markers on the surface of the water where the South Korean ferry went down. Part of the ship had remained above the surface until today, but now the entire vessel is submerged. They're continuing the effort to find some 270 people who are missing and feared dead.
Friday, April 18 2014 11:48 PM EDT2014-04-19 03:48:09 GMT
Have you ever heard of the sport hurling? Not curling, but hurling with an "H" If you're like me, you may have had no idea what that is,but the University of Montana has a pretty impressive hurling team
Hurling is one of the most popular sports in Ireland, but April 19th is when the first ever Hurling game in Montana will be played by the Grizzlies Hurling Team
Saturday, April 19 2014 12:02 AM EDT2014-04-19 04:02:08 GMT
People have just two days left to ski at the nation's largest ski resort before it closes for the winter season. "It's truly been an epic year, one of the best ever," said Cindy Reiss, skier. Big Sky Resort
People have just two days left to ski at the nation's largest ski resort before it closes for the winter season.
Sunday, March 30 2014 10:36 PM EDT2014-03-31 02:36:40 GMT
LOOKOUT PASS, Montana- Lookout Pass near the Idaho/Montana Border is shutdown down following a landslide on I-90. D.O.T. crews are on the scene Sunday evening clearing trying to clear the scene.
LOOKOUT PASS, Montana- Lookout Pass near the Idaho/Montana Border is shutdown down following a landslide on I-90. D.O.T. crews are on the scene Sunday evening clearing trying to clear the scene.
Friday, April 11 2014 8:11 PM EDT2014-04-12 00:11:47 GMT
Thousands of dollars were raised in a matter of seconds for a wounded rancher at the 5-L Red Angus Bull Auction in Sheridan Friday. A total of 300 bulls were sold in a matter of four hours, but one bull
Thousands of dollars were raised in a matter of seconds for a wounded rancher at the 5-L Red Angus Bull Auction in Sheridan Friday.
Thursday, April 17 2014 12:41 AM EDT2014-04-17 04:41:14 GMT
The Montana Lacrosse team is preparing for their last three games of the regular season. They're currently 6-6 and with all three games at home in Washington Grizzly Stadium, they're hoping the playoffs
The Montana Lacrosse team is preparing for their last three games of the regular season. They're currently 6-6 and with all three games at home in Washington Grizzly Stadium, they're hoping the playoffs are on the horizon.
Thursday, April 17 2014 8:05 PM EDT2014-04-18 00:05:47 GMT
According to the Butte-Silver Bow County Police Department, the "Our Lady of the Rockies Statue" turned red on Wednesday night after four young adults put cellophane over the white lights.Undersheriff
According to the Butte-Silver Bow County Police Department, the "Our Lady of the Rockies Statue" turned red on Wednesday night after four young adults put cellophane over the white lights.
