East Helena School Board Tackles Growth
Author: Rachael Brug, Staff Reporter
East Helena School Board Tackles Growth
Rachael Brug
Staff Reporter
At their latest meeting, the East Helena School Board addressed a full agenda reflecting both the district’s growth and its ongoing commitment to student engagement and operational improvement.
Senior Xavier Nun made his debut as the student representative, sharing updates on high school activities. He highlighted recent sports achievements, including the girls' flag football team’s second-place finish at state, and previewed upcoming events like a Student Council movie night fundraiser. Nun also relayed that many students are interested in exploring a four-day school week.
Administrators from all schools reported a notable increase in student behavior referrals compared to last year, though most incidents involve a small percentage of students. Efforts are underway to encourage positive behavior, such as incentive dances and targeted interventions, while staff work to address rising mental health concerns, especially at the middle school level. The high school, meanwhile, has seen a decrease in referrals, with most issues now tied to attendance and tardiness.
Superintendent Dan Rispens emphasized the district’s rapid growth, noting that East Helena is now the second-largest Class A school in Montana after just seven years. Transportation and facility use remain ongoing challenges, with more buses on the road and increasing requests from outside groups.
The board also discussed a promising grant application for improved sidewalks and crosswalks to enhance student safety, as well as the progress of the Rose Hills Habitat for Humanity housing project. Policy updates, including revisions to immunization language and the official appointment of Xavier Nun as student representative, were approved. The board moved the 2026 graduation date to June 5 to avoid conflicts with state sports championships, authorized the purchase of up to two activity buses, and greenlit the creation of a new drama club activity account.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for November 10 at East Middle School.
