Register soon for SD2 schools
Registration is open for middle- and high-school students in School District 2 schools and starts Monday, Aug. 11, for elementary students.
The district recommends that parents or guardians call ahead to set up an appointment for registration at the appropriate school. Appointments for high-school registration should be made with the school counselors.
Students new to the area or entering kindergarten must have a birth certificate and current immunization records in order to register.
To find out which elementary school your child will attend, contact the secretary of elementary/secondary education, at 281-5122.
Students must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 10 of the school year in which a child registers to enter school.
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Kindergarten classes are all day and run daily. Schedules vary by school. If you are uncertain about your child’s schedule, call your neighborhood school.
For middle schools, call Castle Rock at 281-5800; Lewis and Clark, 281-5900; Riverside, 281-6000; or Will James, 281-6100.
For high schools, call Senior at 281-5400; Skyview, 281-5200; or West, 281-5600.
Students who plan to attend the Career Center may register at their home high school.
SD2 classes begin Aug. 27, 28
Students in kindergarten through ninth grade report to classes in School District 2 on Wednesday, Aug. 27. Classes start Thursday, Aug. 28, for ninth through 12th grades.
School times vary by grade and school. Visit the district’s website, www.billingsschools.org, and check for details under your child’s school.
School construction brings some changes
Major renovations are under way at Broadwater and McKinley elementaries.
Broadwater classrooms will not be affected by the construction. The renovations are being conducted inside the school, and the addition site is being prepared. The annex, which houses the administration and primary grades, isn’t having work done as it will be demolished when the other renovations are finished.
In August, teachers will move back into their classrooms, and students will attend Broadwater as usual while work is done on the new addition.
At McKinley, renovations are being done inside the school, and the addition site is being prepared. In the fall, students in kindergarten to second grade will stay at the regular McKinley location, 820 N. 31st St., and third- to fifth-graders will have classes on the third floor of Lincoln Center at 415 N. 30th St.
At McKinley, playground equipment will be available for recess for kindergarten to second-graders, and space inside McKinley will be used for breakfast, lunch and physical education.
Bert Reyes, McKinley’s principal, and Carolyn Yegen, the school counselor, will have opposite schedules at each building. In addition, Lincoln Center personnel can assist for supervision when needed.
All third- to fifth-graders are asked to walk, ride bicycles or be dropped off at McKinley, and the district will provide busing to Lincoln Center. The traffic flow at Lincoln is challenging, so the distract is trying to keep additional traffic to a minimum.
At the end of the day, students will be bused back to McKinley and then walk, cycle or be picked up to go home.
McKinley’s secretary, Heidi Stevens, will be based at McKinley, and a staff member at Lincoln Center will check students in and out and assist parents on the third floor. All parents and guests needing to go to Lincoln’s third floor must check in at the center’s main reception area and receive a visitor pass.
The district has remodeled an area on the first floor of Lincoln Center for breakfast and lunch. Through a partnership with the Billings Public Library, third- to fifth-graders will spend their library time at the public library, and the Lincoln Center gym and secure court yard will be used for P.E. and recess. The district is working with the YMCA for additional activity opportunities.
Hot lunches, breakfast served
Breakfast and hot lunch will be available at School District 2 sites.
For all students in Billings Public Schools, the daily charge for breakfast is $1.25 or 30 cents for reduced-price meals. A weekly plan is available for $6.25 or $1.50 for reduced-price breakfast. And a 20-day breakfast pass costs $25 or $6 on the reduced-price plan.
The daily lunch cost is $2.50 for elementary students, and reduced-cost lunches are 40 cents. Those buying the weekly lunch plan pay $12.50 and $2 for reduced-price lunches. A 20-day lunch pass costs $50 for elementary students and $8 for those on reduced-price meals.
Adult breakfasts at elementary schools cost $1.70, with lunch available for $3.50.
For middle- and high-school students, lunch costs $2.75 a day or 40 cents for those eligible for reduced-price meals. The weekly lunch plan costs $13.75 or $2 for reduced-price meals. And 20-day student lunch passes cost $55 or $8 for those on reduced-price meals.
Adult breakfasts at middle and high schools cost $1.70, with lunch available for $3.70.
Extra milk costs 60 cents for everyone.
SD2 meal costs may be paid online
Families may pay for their kids’ lunches and activity fees from the comfort of their own homes.
Billings School District 2 offers MealTime Online payment processing programs through its website. Beginning Friday, Aug. 15, users simply need to set up a profile and then can complete transactions.
MealTime offers online applications for free and reduced-price meals.
To submit an online application:
* Go to www.billingsschools.org.
* Click on Quick Links.
* Choose MealTime, then set up a user name and password. You will need your children’s student ID numbers.
If you think the school district should have an application on file for this school year but have questions, you can call the Food Service Office at 281-5875 or check with your school’s lunch clerk.
District provides free bus service
Students eligible to ride school buses in Billings School District 2 will be assigned routes, stops and pickup times when they register for classes.
All buses will operate on their scheduled routes on the opening day of school.
School District 2 provides free bus service, according to state law, to students living more than three miles from the schools that they attend.
Motorists should be aware that all vehicles, no matter which direction they are traveling, must stop when red lights on any school bus are flashing. Motorists must obey the posted speed limits in school zones and should be aware of students crossing intersections near schools.
2014-15 calendar highlights listed
Aug. 27: Kindergarteners to ninth-graders report for opening day.
Aug. 28: Ninth- for 12th-graders begin school.
Sept. 1: Labor Day holiday; no school.
Sept. 23: Middle-school early release.
Sept. 25: Elementary-school early release.
Oct. 10: End of six-week grading period.
Oct. 15: Elementary-school early release.
Oct. 16, 17: Teacher PIR days. No school for students.
Oct. 31: End of first quarter.
Nov. 5: Parent/teacher conferences. Early release for elementary students only.
Nov. 6-7: Parent/teacher conferences. Early release for elementary- and middle-school students.
Nov. 21: End of six-week grading period.
Nov. 25: Early release for elementary students.
Nov. 26-28: Thanksgiving holiday. No school.
Dec. 24-Jan. 2: Winter break. No school.
Jan. 15-16: Early release for high-school students.
Jan. 16: End of six-week grading period. End of second quarter.
Jan 19: PIR day. No school for students.
Feb. 12: Early release for elementary students.
Feb. 13-16: Break. No school.
March 6: End of six-week grading period.
March 23: Break. No school
March 31: End of third quarter.
April 2: Early release for elementary students.
April 3-6: Break. No school.
April 13: Teacher PIR day. No school for students.
April 24: End of six-week grading period.
May 1: Break. No school.
May 25: Memorial Day. No school.
May 31: Senior, Skyview, West graduations.
June 4: Early release for all students.
June 5: End of fourth quarter. Last day of school.
District maintains permanent records
The district will maintain a permanent record and a cumulative record for each student.
The permanent record includes identifying information, academic transcripts, immunization records and attendance records. The cumulative record may include intelligence and aptitude scores, psychological reports, achievement-test results, participation in extracurricular activities, honors and awards, teacher anecdotal records, verified reports or information from noneducational persons, verified information of relevance to the student’s education, information pertaining to release of this record and disciplinary information.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act grants parents or guardians and students over 18 years old certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. They are:
* The right to inspect and copy the student’s education records within a reasonable time from the day that the district receives a request for access.
Parents or guardians of students younger than 18 years old and students older than 18 have the right to inspect and copy the student’s permanent record. They should submit to the principal or appropriate school official a written request that identifies the records they wish to inspect. The principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parents, guardians or student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
The district charges a small fee for copying, but no one will be denied copies of their records if they can’t pay this cost.
The rights are denied to any person against whom an order of protection has been entered concerning a student.
* The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent, guardian or student believes are inaccurate, misleading, irrelevant or improper. They should write to the school principal or records custodian, clearly identifying the part of the record that they want changed, and specify the reason.
If the district decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent, guardian or student, the district will notify them and advise him or her of their right to a hearing. More information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent, guardian or student when notified of the right to a hearing.
* The right to permit disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA or state law authorizes disclosure without consent.
Disclosure is permitted without consent to school officials who have legitimate educational or administrative interests. A school official is an administrator, supervisor, instructor or support staff member, including health or medical staff and law-enforcement unit personnell; a person serving on the board; a person or company with whom the district has contracted to perform a special task, such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant or therapist, or a parent, guardian or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.
A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
Upon request, the district discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student has enrolled or intends to enroll, as well as to any person as specifically required by state or federal law. Before information is released, the parent or guardian will receive written notice of the information and an opportunity to inspect, copy and challenge such records. The right to challenge student records does not apply to academic grades of their child and references to expulsions or out-of-school suspensions, if the challenge is made at the time the student’s school student records are forwarded to another school to which the student is transferring.
Disclosure is also permitted without consent to: any person for research, statistical reporting or planning, provided that no student, parent or guardian can be identified; any person named in a court order; and appropriate persons if the knowledge of such information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other persons.
* The right to a copy of any school student record proposed to be destroyed or deleted.
* The right to prohibit the release of directory information concerning the student.
Throughout the school year, the district may release information regarding students including name; address; gender; grade level; birth date and place; names and addresses of parents or guardians; academic awards, degrees and honors; information in relation to school-sponsored activities, organizations and athletics; major field of study; and period of attendance in school.
Any parent, guardian or student may prohibit the release of any or all of the above information by delivering a written objection to the building principal on or before the student’s first day of school.
Any parent, guardian or eligible student may prohibit the release of any or all of the above information by delivering a written objection to the building principal on or before the student’s first day of school.
* The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education, concerning alleged failures by the district to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is Family Policy Compliance Office; U.S. Department of Education; 400 Maryland Ave. S.W.; Washington, DC 20202-4605.
Congress recently passed legislation that requires high schools to provide to military recruiters, upon request, access to secondary-school students and directory information on those students. Both the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 reflect these requirements. However, a secondary-school student or the parent of the student may request that the student’s name, address and telephone listing not be released without prior written parental consent.
District provides some school supplies
Billings Public Schools provide textbooks, workbooks, dictionaries and encyclopedias without cost to students.
Because specific requirements for student supplies will vary from school to school, parents may wish to wait for specific recommendations from individual teachers before buying supplies.
Most teachers, however, require supplies such as No. 2 pencils, wide-lined spiral notebooks and loose-leaf notebook paper, tablets, white glue and crayons.
Some elementary schools post supply lists in advance either at the school or at local stores.
Lists are also available online at the schools’ websites. Go to http://bps.schoolwires.net/Page218, then click on the school name, then the school level to find information about school supplies for your children.
Immunization records needed
No student should be registered or allowed to begin classes in School District 2 without a photocopy of an official immunization record.
The law requires that students entering kindergarten or younger than 7 years old must have:
* Four or more doses of DTP or DTAP, with one dose given after the child’s fourth birthday.
* Three or more doses of polio vaccine, with one dose given after the child’s fourth birthday.
* Two doses of MMR at or after the date that the child turns 12 months old and with at least one month between doses.
Incoming seventh-graders must receive a dose of Td, if the following criteria apply:
* At least a five-year interval has passed since the last dose of DTP, DTAP, DT or Td.
* The pupil is 11 or older.
* A dose of Td was not given when the child was 7 years old or older.
SD2 has medical emergency policy
School District 2’s Board of Trustees recognizes that schools are responsible for providing first-aid or emergency treatment to a student in case of sudden illness or injury. However, further medical attention is the responsibility of the parent or guardian.
The district requires that every parent or guardian provide a telephone number where a parent or designee of a parent may be reached in case of an emergency.
When a student is injured, staff will provide immediate care until relieved by a superior, a nurse or a doctor.
The district will employ its normal procedures to address medical emergencies without regard to the existence of medical directives to health-care professionals, as such directives do not govern school-based personnel. A principal or designated staff member will call a parent or parental designee immediately, so that the parent may arrange for care or treatment of an injured student.
When a student develops symptoms of an illness while at school, a responsible school official will:
* Isolate the student immediately from other children to a room or area segregated for that purpose.
* Inform a parent or guardian as soon as possible about the illness and request that a parent or guard pick up the child.
* Report each case of suspected communicable disease the same day by telephone to a local health authority or as soon as possible thereafter if a health authority cannot be reached the same day.
When a parent or guardian cannot be reached and when, in the judgment of a principal or other person in charge, immediate medical attention is required, an injured student may be taken directly to a hospital and treated by a physician on call. Once located, a parent or a guardian is responsible for continuing treatment or for making other arrangements.
District embraces education for all
School District 2 recognizes Montana’s constitutional guarantee of equal educational opportunity for everyone.
To that end, the district will make equal educational opportunities available for all students without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, ethnicity, language barrier, religious belief, physical or mental handicap or disability, economic or social condition, or actual or potential marital or parental status.
This policy applies to all areas of education, including academics, coursework, co-curricular and extracurricular activities, or other rights or privileges of enrollment.
In addition, the district will not tolerate hostile or abusive treatment, derogatory remarks or acts of violence against students, staff or volunteers, in general, and of those with disabilities, in particular. The district will consider such behavior against those with disabilities as constituting discrimination on the basis of disability, in violation of state and federal law.
Any student, parent or guardian with questions about this policy should first contact the student’s building administrator.
The student, parent, or guardian may also address questions concerning this policy to the superintendent or to the district’s nondiscrimination coordinator. The district’s nondiscrimination coordinator is the director of human resources. The office may be reached at 281-5040.
Anyone may file a complaint alleging violation of this policy by following the Uniform Complaint Procedure, Policy 1700.
Public welcome at trustee meetings
The School District 2 Board of Trustees meets at least once a month.
Unless otherwise specified, all meetings will take place in the board room of the Lincoln Center, 415 N. 30th St.
Regular meetings shall take place at 5:30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month or at other times and places determined by a majority vote.
Except for an unforeseen emergency, meetings must occur in a school building or in a publicly owned building located within the district.
If regular meetings are scheduled at places other than as stated above or are adjourned to times other than a regular meeting time, notice of the meeting shall be made in the same manner as provided for special meetings.
When a meeting date falls on a legal holiday, the meeting shall take place on the next business day.
Community members may make comments at board meetings as described in board policy and Montana law.
Community members may also request that the board consider a particular item as part of its agenda by submitting the item in writing to the superintendent. The written request must include information about the item and the name, address and telephone number of the community member making the request.
The superintendent may request additional information from the community member before submitting the item for placement on the board’s agenda. The superintendent may design a paper or electronic form through which community members may request board consideration.
If a suggested agenda item is a complaint against any district employee, the individual filing the complaint must demonstrate that the Uniform Complaint Procedure was followed.
How to contact SD2 officials
For general information about Billings Public Schools, contact the main switchboard at 281-5000.
Elementary schools
Alkali Creek
Principal, Greg Senitte
681 Alkali Creek Road
281-6200, fax 254-0162
Arrowhead
Principal, Pam Meier
2510 38th St. W.
281-6201, fax 656-0169
Beartooth
Principal, Cheryl Malia-McCall
1345 Elaine St.
281-6202, fax 254-1123
Bench
Principal, Sandie Mammenga
505 Milton Road
281-6203, fax 254-1130
Big Sky
Principal, Lee Kvilhaug
3231 Granger Ave.
281-6204, fax 656-0247
Bitterroot
Principal, John English
1801 Bench Blvd.
281-6205, fax 254-1155
Boulder
Principal, Jay Lemelin
2202 32nd St. W.
281-6206, fax 656-0287
Broadwater
Principal, Joe Halligan
415 Broadwater Ave.
281-6207, fax 254-0057
Burlington
Principal, Kyra Gaskill
2135 Lewis Ave.
281-6208, fax 656-0357
Central Heights
Principal, Bob Barone
120 Lexington Drive
281-6209, fax 656-0878
Eagle Cliffs
Principal, Lorrie Wolverton
1201 Kootenai Ave.
281-6210, fax 254-1312
Highland
Principal, Jeri Heard
729 Parkhill Drive
281-6211, fax 254-1412
McKinley
Principal, Bert Reyes
820 N. 31st St.
281-6212, fax 254-1225
Meadowlark
Principal, Stacy Lemelin
221 29th St. W.
281-6213, fax 656-0359
Miles Avenue
Principal, Shanna Henry
1601 Miles Ave.
281-6214, fax 656-0625
Newman
Principal, Travis Niemeyer
605 S. Billings Blvd.
281-6215, fax 254-1675
Orchard
Principal, Karen Ziegler
120 Jackson St.
281-6216, fax 254-1723
Poly Drive
Principal, Keith Croft
2410 Poly Drive
281-6217, fax 656-0649
Ponderosa
Principal, Lori Booke
4188 King Ave. E.
281-6218, fax 254-1825
Rose Park
Principal, Tami Concepcion
1812 19th St. W.
281-6219, fax 254-1404
Sandstone
Principal, Mark Venner
1440 Nutter Blvd.
281-6220, fax 254-1965
Washington
Principal, DeeDee Larsen
1044 Cook Ave.
281-6221, fax 254-1287
Middle schools
Castle Rock
Principal, Nikki Hofmann
1441 Governor’s Blvd.
281-5800, fax 254-1116
Lewis and Clark
Principal, Steve Pomroy
1315 Lewis Ave.
281-5900, fax 281-6177
Riverside
Principal, Shaun Harrington
3700 Madison Ave.
281-6000, fax 255-3534
Will James
Principal, Reece Kalfell
1200 30th St. W.
281-6100, fax 281-6178
High schools
Senior
Principal, Dennis Holmes
425 Grand Ave.
281-5400, fax 281-6174
Skyview
Principal, Debra Black
1775 High Sierra Blvd.
281-5200, fax 255-3507
West
Principal, Dave Cobb
2201 St. John’s Ave.
281-5600, fax 655-3100
Career Center
Principal, Scott Anderson
3723 Central Ave.
281-5344
Department contacts
Administration/superintendent
Superintendent, Terry Bouck
415 N. 30th St.
281-5066
Adult education
Rod Svee
415 N. 30th St.
281-5001
Assessment
Roger Dereszynski
415 N. 30th St.
281-5068
Bond project manager
Lew Anderson
415 N. 30th St.
281-5075
Business office
Patricia Hubbard
415 N. 30th St.
281-5116
Chief financial officer/clerk
Leo Hudetz
415 N. 30th St.
281-5116
Curriculum (K-12)
415 N. 30th St.
Kim Anthony
281-5144
Driver’s education
Mark Wahl
1470 Industrial Ave.
281-5100
Energy conservation
Scott Reiter
101 10th St. W.
281-5787
Facilities services
Scott Reiter, 281-5787
Dennis Stellingwerf, custodial foreman, 281-5888
101 10th St. W.
Food service
Bette Hunt
101 10th St. W.
281-5878
General information
Switchboard
Lincoln Center, 415 N. 30th St.
281-5000
Human resources
Jeana Lervick
415 N. 30th St.
281-5040
Indian Education for All
Jennifer Smith
415 N. 30th St.
281-5071
Music/art coordinator
Scott Corey
415 N. 30th St.
281-5049
School leadership support
Brenda Koch and Kathy Olson
415 N. 30th St.
281-5122
Special education
Tamara Covington
415 N. 30th St.
281-5028
Special education services
Judy Povilaitis
415 N. 30th St.
281-5026
Student activities
Mark Wahl
1470 Industrial Ave.
281-5074
Support services
1470 Industrial Ave.
* Transportation, 281-5595
* Print shop, 281-5578
* Teacher Resource Center, 281-5576
* IMC, 281-5591
Technology
Kyle Brucker
415 N. 30th St.
