Valley County Schools Asking Community to Vote

Valley County schools are holding regular elections on Tuesday, May 7, and a large number of the schools in the county are asking for voters to cast their vote to fill trustee term positions with some schools also asking to pass a fund levy request.

Glasgow schools is asking voters to choose one trustee to be elected for a three-year term as well as pass a general fund mill levy. Incumbent Mona Amundson and newcomer Regina Cain will be on the ballot to fill the open position. On the ballot will also be the chance to vote for or against a levy proposition for the purpose of increasing teacher and support staff wages. The proposition includes increasing local taxes to support the general fund in the amount of $104,074, which is approximately 6.6 mills. If this passes, taxes on a home with a market value of $100,000 will increase by approximately $8.91 and a home with a market value of $200,000 will see an increase of approximately $17.82.

The election will be held at the School Administration Office, located at 229 7th St. N, Glasgow, from noon to 8 p.m. Those who are registered to vote permanent absentee, ballots were mailed out on April 18, and should arrive in your mailbox soon, if not already. Ballots can be returned either via mail at least one week before the Election (by April 30) or dropped off at the Glasgow School Administration office 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday until Election Day and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Frazer school is asking voters to choose two trustees to fill a three-year term position. Those who have thrown their hat in the ring are Jewel Four Star Ackerman, Mary Sue Jackson, Adeline Smoker and Brockie Standing. Elections will be held at the Annex Building, 325 6th Street, behind the Frazer school. The polls will be open from noon to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Opheim school is asking voters to choose one trustee to be elected for a three-year term. Incumbent John Pankratz and newcomer Michael Fauth are vying for the position. Ballots will mailed out and can be returned to the Opheim School office, 119 N Rock Street, Opheim, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. before May 7. On Election Day, ballots can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the school office.

Lustre Grade School is asking voters to choose one trustee to be elected for a three-year term among the filed candidates of Daryl Toews and Robert “Bob” Schiller, as well as approve a mill levy proposition to finance the school’s Building Reserve Fund. The proposition will ask voters to vote for or against a $15,000 per year for three years levy for maintenance and upkeep of the school building grounds, teacher housing and other building expenses. This levy has been raised marginally from the last levy in 2017 of $12,000 per year for three years. The impact on tax payers will be $1.53 on a house with an assessed market value of $100,000 and $3.05 on a house with an assessed market value of $200,000, when compared to the previous three years. Ballots will be mailed out and can be returned to Lustre Grade School office, 6 Lustre Grade Ln, Lustre, from 8:20 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. Monday through Friday. On Election Day, ballots can be returned from 8 a.m to 8 p.m. at the school.

Nashua and Hinsdale schools had been scheduled to participate as both schools had at least one trustee term position open. These elections were canceled as they did not receive enough candidates filing to run for the position. Hinsdale School also had a general fund levy election scheduled, however that election was also canceled. The Glasgow Courier reached out to Hinsdale school to inquire about this cancellation, however they provided no comment.

When returning your ballot in-person for your school’s mail-in election, Montana has a new state law requirement for anyone returning a mail/absentee ballot that belongs to another individual. A ballot may only be returned by an acquaintance, caregiver, family member or household member. A person returning another person’s ballot must register with an election official, certifying that they meet one of the requirements. A person may only return six ballots per election and failure to comply with these requirements may result in a fine of $500 per ballot.

A qualified registered voter who will be out of the area during the time of the election can either vote in person in the election administrator’s office as soon as the ballots are available or make a written request, signed by the applicant and addressed to the election administrator, that the ballot be mailed to an address other than the address that appears on the registration card.

If the regular registration deadline is missed, you can still register for the election by showing up at the county election office, Clerk and Recorders Office, Valley County Courthouse Annex, Glasgow, up to and including Election Day. Between noon and the close of business on May 6, you may complete and submit a voter registration card, but you will need to return to the district voting location on Election Day to pick up and vote a ballot.