Impact Aid: a Lifeblood for School Districts

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

It is true that Impact Aid is the lifeblood of many districts in the United States. Impact Aid is the funding that districts receive in lieu of tax-exempt lands on Indian reservations and military bases. These lands are not taxed locally to pay for public education; however, the federal government pays the local school districts dollars for these federally impacted lands. Without these funds, many school districts would not be able to function. In essence, the more federally impacted land, in a district, the more the district relies on this funding because these lands are taken out of local tax revenues.

With minimal taxable properties on reservations and military bases, the district can have a very low tax valuation. It often results in higher taxes for fewer people. It also limits the amount that may be levied by the district to provide for its students. For example, in Montana, districts outside the reservations often put additional tax levies to a vote in order to provide for the quality of education that the people within its boundaries choose for their community. The opportunity to successfully run levies is a foundation of local control. You will often see districts running levies to pay for technology as well as building and ground improvements because the funding provided by the State of Montana General Fund is not sufficient to provide for all the needs of a school district; therefore, if a district chooses to fund expectations beyond the Montana General Funding Model, they have the local control to pass a levy in order to do so.

With all of this being said, what about school districts like St. Ignatius?

St. Ignatius is very dependent upon impact aid. It is our source to pay for all of our operational expenses. It is also the funding that pays for major technology as well as building and ground improvements. As stated in the U.S. News and World Report: Brent Gish, the executive director of the National Indian Impacted Schools Association calls Impact Aid "a lifeblood for our school districts" (Michelson, March 20, 2015). 

Why all the attention on Impact aid?

According to Gish,:“At a time which school reform is being implemented, school improvement, school restructuring — Impact Aid is a critical funding source to make this happen."  In addition, John Forkenbrock, executive director of the National Association of Federally Impacted Schools says that districts need to keep Impact Aid on their congress representative's radar as it can make a difference as to whether a district can pay the bills and its employees (Michelson, March 20, 2015).

The problem is that Impact Aid funding has significantly decreased in the past several years here at St. Ignatius. For example, last year we had a 39% drop in Impact Aid funding and have received less than our full allotment.  The last several years, the government is only paying 85% of full allotments. This type of loss in revenue affects our educational programs.

What can we do to make a difference in Impact Aid appropriations?

Montana has two senators on the Impact Aid Appropriations Committee: Senator Steve Daines and Senator John Tester. Please encourage our representatives to support funding for the entire Impact Aid Program. Let them know that Impact Aid is not only the Federal Government's obligation, but vital to the quality of education of our students. For many districts, this funding is the lifeblood that allows our school systems to operate.

2015-2016 CALENDAR MEETING

Everyone is invited!

The Calendar Committee will form and meet for the first time to discuss options for the 2015-2016 Calendar. Everyone is invited to attend the 2015-2016 Calendar Meeting and provide input.

The meeting will be held on Thursday, March 26, 2015 in the Cafeteria/Multi-Purpose room on the Stage at 6:30 PM.

See you there!

Bob Lewandowski

Mission Community Mobilization

By Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

As a school administrator, I have had the privilege of building school tracks, schools, pools as well as additions and major renovations, but nothing is as exciting as the celebration of new playground equipment. Mission elementary students could not wait to experience what was in store out on the playground. They have worked hard to earn the necessary funds to help make this happen. What they couldn't earn they showed thanks for at the Mission Playground Possible assembly.

The assembly started by tracing the project from beginning to end. Many of the donors were recognized and several were able to attend

• Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation: Jack Gilbraith
• Blackfoot Telephone: Jim Blush
• Plum Creek Foundation: Rebecca Hendrix
• St. Ignatius PTO: Mary Leishman
• Indian Education Committee: Terry Durglo and Dana Hewankorn
• Recreation Brand: Jeremy Winters

In addition to the large donors that attended, we recognized all other contributions and donors as well. Students enthusiastically applauded each donor and contribution. The students showed the same love that was given with their applause. It was a proud day to be a Bulldog. After the assembly and the celebration concluded the playground was unlocked for student access.

I was so moved by the number of elementary students that came up to me and said "thank you." From kindergarten to the fifth grade, our kids know how to be grateful. In many cases it was a hug and then off to the new playground equipment. After seeing how much they enjoyed the new equipment, it only made me wish we could have gotten it to them even sooner.

This project has been a community project. Everyone has worked hard to earn the money and support needed to gain the needed attentions of larger donor organizations. Our community was determined to make this project happen. It wasn't easy, but it was worth it. We had walk-a-thons, pennies for playground, Tupperware sales, silent auctions, pizza sales, pathways for playgrounds and GoFundMe websites in order to earn the money needed to get the flywheel moving. Once it got started, the momentum has continued into the next playground equipment project in the upper playground. We have already collected over $13,200. Another $24,000 and we will have the funds to apply to another matching grant and install our next playground structure.

So many have done so much. As a collective whole, Mission answered the call of our students' needs. This project will serve as a template to follow for mobilizing a community. Mission is a great example of community mobilization.  Now...lets go out an get another $24,000 for the upper playground.

See the Missoulian for their coverage of the Mission Playground "Made" Possible assembly.

Mission Playground Made Possible

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

Newly installed playground equipment. Photo by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

It has been almost five years since the "Playground Committee" began it quest to purchase much needed playground equipment for our elementary students. Since that time the Committee has gone through a number of changes. From Committee members to playground designs, the changes did not stop the enthusiasm and passion needed to make this mission possible. Our community raised over $34,000 along with a $25,000 matching grant in order to make this quest a reality.

Mission Community Mobilization  Photo by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

In addition to the $59,000 equipment. The "Installation Crew" saved $10,000 through their efforts to assemble and install the equipment. The community effort has been nothing short of amazing. This project has brought the very best out of our community. People have stepped up in so many ways to make Mission Playground Possible a reality. All of these efforts have resulted in a piece of equipment that speaks volumes about the love that Mission has for its youth.

Mission Community Mobilization can be detailed on the Mission Possible Playground GoFundMe site.

Brandon Gilleard heads up the "Installation Crew." Photo by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

Brandon Gilleard, Rich Ferris, Rod Arlint, Steve McCollum and Chris Heffern begin installing the equipment. Photo by Brenda Arlint.

More photos available: CLICK "READ MORE"

Max Johnson Encouraged The Heart

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

For the past few months the administration team has been reading The Leadership Challenge by James Kouze and Barry Posner. We divided the book by chapters and each representative of the administrative team presented a chapter. We decided that the last section of the book will be done collectively. The section is called "Encourage the Heart." It speaks to the extraordinary things that leaders do to inspire others with courage and hope. Later this morning, our community will lay to rest Max Johnson. In the short time I have come to know Max, his actions epitomize the practice of encouraging the heart.

Point of case, in the Chapter 10 summary of The Leadership Challenge substitute Max Johnson every time it uses the form of the word leader. I think you will find that it represents him well:

Leaders give heart by visibly recognizing people's contributions to the common vision. With a thank-you note, a smile and public praise, the leader lets others know how much they mean to the organization.

Leaders express pride in the accomplishments of their teams. They make a point of telling the rest of the organization about what the teams have achieved. They make people feel like heroes. 

Hard work can also be fun work. Hoopla is important to a winning team. Everybody loves a parade. Leaders find creative ways to celebrate accomplishments. They take time out to rejoice in reaching a milestone.

And what sustains the leader? From what source comes the leader's courage? The answer is love. Leaders are in love - in love with the people who do the work, with their organizations produce and with customers (p. 273).

I didn't know Max before his stroke, but I know he did all of these things from a wheel-chair. Since moving to this community five years ago, Max went out of his way to greet me with a handshake and a smile. He made my family feel welcome. He went out of his way to clip news articles out of the paper and give them to my children when their name or picture appeared. This made them feel loved and appreciated. He always asked how Stephanie (my second oldest child) was doing at college. He didn't just ask, he listened. He made a point of celebrating her accomplishments here at St. Ignatius. It was like we were a part of his family. He cared about our family.

Max Johnson was an extraordinary man. He didn't know my family, but he made a point to love them. He loved everyone else in so many ways. From shaking hands with congregational members after communion at St. Ignatius to attending almost every athletic contest here at Mission.  Max Johnson "loved" Mission.

The obituary in the Missoulian stated that Max passed away on Saturday, February 28. His son, Scott, said that in his father's last days he woke up several times and said that he would be leaving on Saturday because his Dad was picking him up to put out salt. Scott told me that Max left this world at noon on Saturday, both hands on the clock were straight up, just as his Dad had said. Ironically enough,  I was talking to my Dad on the phone and told him what Scott had said. His response was: "You know the Bible says that salt is a necessity of life." This morning I Googled "salt." Sure enough, Wikipedia says that salt metaphorically it signifies permanence, loyalty, durability, fidelity, usefulness, value and purification. Metaphorically, I think Max has been putting out salt all of his life.

Thank you Max Johnson. You are the salt of the earth.