http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers en-us http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers ActiveKB NX SMeredith@metnet.mt.gov Wed, 22 May 2013 15:05:07 MDT 20 http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/76/ Q: How is the cost of pupil transportation funded in Montana? A: The state and county share "on-schedule costs" to provide funding for parent mileage contracts and a mileage reimbursement for bus ... Donnel Rosenthal Thu, 08 Mar 2012 20:25:51 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/98/ If your school owns a school bus or bus used to transport kids for athletics or activities, you should be familiar with the Bus Depreciation Fund. Q: What is the Bus Depreciation Fund for? ... Donnel Rosenthal Thu, 08 Mar 2012 20:22:38 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/79/ Question:Which school district is responsible for transporting a student who attends outside his district of residence?Answer:Usually the district where the student attends will transport him. If ... Donnel Rosenthal Thu, 08 Mar 2012 20:19:58 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/81/ Question:What are the guidelines of the "3 Mile Rule"?Answer: MCA 20-10-101(2)(c)(i) states “resides at least 3 miles, over the shortest practical route, from the nearest operating public e ... Donnel Rosenthal Thu, 08 Mar 2012 20:18:27 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/99/ Q: Are bus drivers required to have CPR training? A: No, state law does not require CPR training to be certified for driving a school bus. BUT, it's a very good idea for a school district to s ... Donnel Rosenthal Thu, 08 Mar 2012 20:16:10 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/302/ Q: What is an attendance center?A: An attendance center is a location where students regularly attend school at a location other than the regular school building. The attendance center is effec ... Donnel Rosenthal Fri, 21 May 2010 17:26:56 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/294/ Q: What is required for the training of election judges? A: School district election judges must meet the requirements of 13-4-203, MCA. The Secretary of State’s office suggests sever ... Donnel Rosenthal Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:14:23 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/163/ Question: Under what conditions can a district use money from their General Fund Operating Reserves? Answer: Operating reserves provide limited financial cushion for 2 purposes: To en ... Donnel Rosenthal Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:56:52 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/162/ What are the general requirements for transferring cash and/or budget authority between funds?Question: What cash and budget transfers are specifically allowed under school laws?Answer: The foll ... Donnel Rosenthal Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:01:03 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/108/ Question:Is a school district required to advertise a position opening?Answer:There is no state or federal law prohibiting hiring without advertisement of the position. However, the best practice ... Donnel Rosenthal Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:18:52 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/107/ Question:How do I apply for the one-time-only start up costs for implementing FTK?Answer:When OPI receives a signed copy of the PAA-3 Form, Section 6 from the schoold district, the OTO payment for ... Donnel Rosenthal Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:07:10 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/106/ What is Guaranteed Tax Base? The Guaranteed Tax Base Aid program (GTB), is a state program related to school funding in Montana. The statutes covering GTB are MCA 20-9-366 through 369. The pr ... Donnel Rosenthal Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:30:44 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/105/ Q: What is isolation status? A: State law (MCA 20-9-302 and 303) requires that an elementary district operating a school with fewer than 10 ANB (usually 8 or fewer full time student ... Donnel Rosenthal Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:28:31 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/104/ Q: What is "ANB"? A: ANB is Average Number Belonging, which is a student count used for state funding purposes. Q: Will the school lose ANB if students are absent on the official enrollment c ... Donnel Rosenthal Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:41:30 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/103/ Q: Can an ad be posted in the legal section of the newspaper to post the notice of election? A: According to the Secretary of State's Office, there is nothing that would prevent a school ... Donnel Rosenthal Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:39:14 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/102/ Q: What is a consolidation? A: Consolidation results in one new district in place of two or more districts that consolidate. (MCA 20-6-203) Elem -- Two or more elementary districts in one ... Donnel Rosenthal Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:35:28 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/101/ Debt Service Fund MCA 20-9-443: When the bonds are paid off, the money in the debt service fund may be transferred into the Building Reserve Fund (61), Technology Fund (28), or General Fu ... Donnel Rosenthal Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:16:52 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/100/ Q: When can a school district cancel a warrant? A: MCA 20-9-223 allows cancellation of a warrant outstanding (unredeemed) after 1 year. However, the obligation represented by the warran ... Donnel Rosenthal Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:14:20 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/95/ Q: What is the last date to hold an election on the Building Reserve Fund? A: Section 20-9-502, MCA, covers the fund but does not state an election deadline. The election must be h ... Donnel Rosenthal Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:48:02 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/94/ Q: Can a district avoid a budget overdraft by paying after 6/30 for goods and services received by 6/30? A: No. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) require that goods and services rec ... Donnel Rosenthal Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:23:00 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/93/ It is recommended that each school district superintendent keep the following items in a folder for each budget year: [This list shows major headings and contents of each area] Elementary ... Donnel Rosenthal Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:19:48 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/92/ Q: What should a school district do about outstanding bond coupons when the bond has matured? (I.e., when some of the bondholders have not presented the coupons for payment?) A: At ... Donnel Rosenthal Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:15:30 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/91/ Q; Does every School have to have an audit? A: State law says a school district that receives $ 200,000 or more in total revenues in a year has to have an audit for that year. The Federal governm ... Donnel Rosenthal Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:12:33 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/89/ Question:Can the district rent a dwelling for an administrator in order to be in close proximity to the school campus?  If so, is the rental amount to be included in the gross salary and therefore ... Donnel Rosenthal Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:08:17 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/87/ Question:Are school districts required to borrow funds only from the Board of Investments rather than from a bank?Answer:No. Trustees are authorized to pledge revenue from building reserve fund l ... Donnel Rosenthal Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:08:03 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/90/ Q: Is a school district required to drop a student after 10 days of absence? A: No. Trustees may adopt policies regarding penalties for behavior of students, including excessive absences. Howe ... Donnel Rosenthal Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:07:34 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/88/ Question:Does Montana Law require an educational program for kids in regional and county youth detention centers? Who pays educational costs for students in youth detention centers? How are paym ... Donnel Rosenthal Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:41:25 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/82/ Below are frequently asked questions about funding Full-Time Kindergarten (FTK): Q: I just received the official email announcing that updated FY2008 Budget Data Sheets are available on the OPI w ... Donnel Rosenthal Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:49:53 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/80/ Question:Where can I find more information about grants, loans, and other financing options for school construction projects?Answer:1. As you may be aware, the Board of Investments has an Intercap ... Donnel Rosenthal Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:39:59 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/75/ Question:Where can I see the Montana teacher pay scale?Answer:Teacher salaries are determined by local school districts through locally developed bargaining procedures. Salary information may be ... Donnel Rosenthal Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:52:10 GMT http://opi.mt.gov/GetAnswers/questions/78/ Question:How can school districts combine or merge?Answer: There are two ways that school districts can merge: school district annexation (MCA 20-6-422) and school district consolidation (MCA 20- ... Donnel Rosenthal Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:50:47 GMT