Q&A with trustee candidates for Belgrade School District #44

Belgrade News: We asked each candidate the same questions. Here's what they had to say.

RON BARNETT

Where do you reside (rough area/city/town, unincorporated or incorporated)?

I've lived in Belgrade for over 50 years.

What's your age?

I am presently 72 years old, going on 73.

How long have you lived in Gallatin County, and where did you move from (and when) if you're not from there?

I've lived in Gallatin County for almost my whole 72 years of life.

What do you like about the Belgrade area?

Belgrade has always revolved around community and what is good for the youth!

What are some of the most important issues faced by families served by Belgrade Public Schools?

We are not providing more of a pride in education and support in the community.

What are some of the most important issues faced by Belgrade Public Schools staff?

From my perspective, the teachers are asked to do more and more. Most of the teachers want to teach and educate the future adults of our state. However, they are being handcuffed at every turn. They need to have freedom to educate as best as they know how.

What is (or was, if retired) your profession?

I'm semi-retired.

Would you mind sharing some info about your personal life, like hobbies, other jobs/vocations, family status (single or married, whether you have kids and if so how many and about how old they are)?

I have been married to a beautiful Belgrade grad for 45 years. We have three children ages 43, 41, and 36, all of whom are Belgrade graduates as well. We also are blessed with four grandchildren. I'm an avid fly fisherman and find much of my brain solace from it. Basically, I was born with a fly rod in my hand.

What has inspired/motivated you to want to become a trustee?

The inspiration for wanting to be a school board trustee comes from my father, who was in education for 30 years. He also inspired our children to become teachers and serve our community. He passed away a little over a year ago and had always wanted me to get more involved for the betterment of our school and community. For that reason, I feel I can help bring pride back to our school and community. I have time to invest in all thoughts, from educators to community leaders, to bring pride back to our schools.

LILA BEARD

Where do you reside (rough area/city/town, unincorporated or incorporated)?

I live in Belgrade, Montana

What's your age?

70 years old

How long have you lived in Gallatin County, and where did you move from (and when) if you're not from there?

I was born and raised in eastern Montana and went to college in Bozeman. My family moved to Belgrade in 1989 so we have been here 37 years.

What do you like about the Belgrade area?

I like the Belgrade area because of the community is kind and caring. It is also a beautiful place to live and we enjoy outdoor activities.

What are some of the most important issues faced by families served by Belgrade Public Schools?

Issues families face are affordable housing, being able to pay all their bills, child care, and putting food on the table. We have had rapid population growth, and the infrastructure has not kept up.

What are some of the most important issues faced by Belgrade Public Schools staff?

Belgrade staff faces the same issues as our families. They need to make wages that will provide for their families in order to remain in our district.

What is (or was, if retired) your profession?

I am a retired teacher from the Belgrade School District. I taught at the Belgrade High School until 2015 and then continued subbing there until 2023. I was also the head Speech, Debate and Drama coach.

Would you mind sharing some info about your personal life, like hobbies, other jobs/vocations, family status (single or married, whether you have kids and if so how many and about how old they are)?

I was raised on a farm/ranch operation in Eastern Montana and graduated from MSU (Go CATS!!). My husband and I have been married for 50 years in June. My three children are all graduates of Belgrade High School, and I currently have three grandchildren who attend schools in the district. My daughter is a teacher at the Belgrade Middle School.

What has inspired/motivated you to want to become a trustee?

I am currently finishing serving a one year term on the Belgrade School Board, and this past year has shown me I can make a difference in serving our community. My 33 years of experience working in the Belgrade Schools enables me to share teachers' perspectives with the board on specific policies and procedures. Students are the future of our community and state, and I want to help them obtain the education they need for their future success.

MARIE BOSTER

Where do you reside (rough area/city/town, unincorporated or incorporated)?

Belgrade

What's your age?

56

How long have you lived in Gallatin County, and where did you move from (and when) if you're not from there?

I have lived in Belgrade for 3.5 years.

What do you like about the Belgrade area?

Belgrade has a home-town feeling. It is a relaxed, conservative small town.

What are some of the most important issues faced by families served by Belgrade Public Schools?

We have a behavior and bullying problem in our schools. I will work with school officials to provide a safe environment for all students, teachers, and staff. I want to see more money going toward the education of our students and cut wasteful spending.

What are some of the most important issues faced by Belgrade Public Schools staff?

Teacher and student retention is a problem in our district. I think that we need to look at why we are losing teachers and students and work to correct the problem. It is difficult to grow our schools if we are losing students. Decreased enrollment leads to decreased funding. Our primary focus should be the pursuit of academic excellence for all students so that we can be the best in the valley. We are accountable to the voters and need to be transparent about what the students are learning, our policies and with how their tax dollars are used.

What is (or was, if retired) your profession?

I have over 21 years experience with homeschooling through a public school charter, 15 years teaching Tae Kwon Do, and 14 years as a scout leader and committee member. I have also served as a parent liaison at a public charter school.

Would you mind sharing some info about your personal life, like hobbies, other jobs/vocations, family status (single or married, whether you have kids and if so how many and about how old they are)?

I am a stay-at-home mom.

What has inspired/motivated you to want to become a trustee?

I believe that schools should come alongside families and support them by providing a quality education. I will fight to increase communication between school staff, teachers, and parents. I will defend the rights of students to receive a quality education without compromising their safety or beliefs.

STEPHEN SCOTT MUELLER

Where do you reside (rough area/city/town, unincorporated or incorporated)?

I have lived in Belgrade for about 7 years, in the Prescott Ranch area. My wife and I moved to Belgrade after having lived in Rhode Island, in order to be closer to her children and grandchildren.

What's your age?

I am 79 years old.

How long have you lived in Gallatin County, and where did you move from (and when) if you're not from there?

We decided to move after I retired from my faculty position at the School of Social Work at Rhode Island College after working there for 46 years.

What do you like about the Belgrade area?

Belgrade is a community with character. My neighbors work hard and contribute to the community. This is important to me. While I lived in Rhode Island, I was elected to serve as a member of the school board for 26 years, and on the state association of school boards for 24 years. Additionally, I was elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the National School Boards Association in Washington, D.C. for 9 years.

What are some of the most important issues faced by families served by Belgrade Public Schools?

Belgrade families are challenged by poor national economic policy. We were promised lower gas prices and lower food prices.

What are some of the most important issues faced by Belgrade Public Schools staff?

One of the challenges for staff is low salaries. Every year we lose teaching staff to Bozeman because their pay is better. Some of our teachers need to work a second job to pay their bills. In part, this is created by the poorly designed Montana support for education. The state simply does not support the education of our children.

What is (or was, if retired) your profession?

[Already answered above]

Would you mind sharing some info about your personal life, like hobbies, other jobs/vocations, family status (single or married, whether you have kids and if so how many and about how old they are)?

I am married and my wife and I have 5 children: daughter in Nashville, son In Nashville, daughter in Bozeman, son in Fort Shaw, and son in Idaho. Two granddaughters in Bozeman and two grandchildren in Idaho. You asked about hobbies. My wife allows me to support our garden, but most of that support takes the form of dandelion killing. My mother was a librarian and she would be proud to hear me describe myself as a reader.

What has inspired/motivated you to want to become a trustee?

I am interested in election to the position of trustee in part by my beliefs: public education is important; I believe that it is important for people to give back to their communities. My wife and I chose Belgrade. I believe that I should work to make this the best community possible, by giving my skills and my time in service to the community. Belgrade students perform better than half of the students Montana. Our community is stronger than that; our staff is stronger than that.