Enrollment is up in the Boulder schools, four houses sold in the last two weeks and two more are pending, Shakespeare in the Parks had record attendance, and Elkhorn Community Foundation has amassed an endowment of over $50,000.
All of those pieces of good news, plus hopeful reports about possible new businesses, were shared at the August 3 meeting of the Boulder Transition Advisory Committee (BTAC).
Other news shared at the meeting was not so positive for the community’s economy, however. The Montana Developmental Center is going through a reorganization that means people have to reapply for jobs there as 10-15 positions are eliminated, the group heard. The client census is down to 21.
The mechanics of receiving a $500,000 grant approved by the last legislature are not yet worked out, and applications to serve on the Boulder Development Fund Board are not rolling in yet.
Overall, though, the dozen or so folks attending the monthly meeting were pleased with all the positives they heard. Jefferson High Superintendent Tim Norbeck was the first to share good news. Enrollment has risen fro 207 two years ago to an expected 265 anticipated this fall, he said. That is an increase of 20 or more from last year, he said. “We’ve got 56 kids in the pep band,” he reported, adding, “that’s bigger than some A and double-A schools.” That welcome growth comes with challenges, he said, quipping, “Brass is not cheap.” But “all the problems we have are good problems,” Norbeck concluded.
Boulder Elementary Superintendent Maria Pace also had good news to tell. Enrollment there is up to 176, she said. The district has purchased the “Herseim house,” a house that sits in the corner of school property. Although the district will have to address the asbestos in the house first, the hope is that the property can eventually be used for an outdoor classroom and a hub for the farm to school program in which the school is a leader in Montana, she said.
In the meantime, the school is launching a pilot program aiming to have individual learning plans for every student eventually. Calling the program exciting and innovative, Pace said, “If our schools are very innovative people will want to move here.” The facilities are “in great shape,” said Pace, and “we’re sitting really great.”
Mayor Gary Craft reported on the recent housing sales, and said many of the buyers are families. Bruce Binkowski, Jefferson County Event Coordinator, reported on good attendance at Frontier Days in Whitehall as well as work underway to support the Elkhorn Endurance Run, the Jefferson County Fair and Rodeo, and the Boulder Chamber of Commerce Music and Art Festival. A website to promote the county and its attractions is well underway, he said, and should be ready next spring. County Commissioner Bob Mullen reported on a meeting with a potential new business that could bring 16 to 20 jobs to the area. Tom Harrington of the Jefferson Local Development Corporation responded to a question about another group investigating options for bringing a privately-funded veterans facility to the area. Both are still very tentative, but good signs, they said.
The BTAC was formed to further the “Making Boulder’s Future Bright” effort. It meets every month on the first Thursday of the month at 8 a.m. at the Boulder City Hall and the meeting is open to the public.
