Basin’s beloved elementary school is far from alone in its struggle to stay alive: schools all over Montana have shut their doors in recent decades, and only a few have found ways to reopen and begin to revive their communities.
One of them is century-old SY Elementary, which sits on a desolate stretch of southeastern Montana highway that makes Basin look like Billings. The nearest restaurant, gas station, grocery store, and church are 40 minutes away, either south to Broadus or north to Miles City.
Just 40 people live within 10 miles of SY, in unincorporated towns like Beebe, Stacey, Coalwood, and Cameron Crossing, according to School Clerk Theresa Zook. The few kids who live in Volborg, 8 miles south, take the bus to Broadus, where they are able to play sports.
