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Billings Public Schools News

This page is dedicated to any community correspondence happening in the district. We hope this page will be a faithful resources for emergency situations, lockdowns, Snow Days or announcements of that nature.

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05/31/19

Parents and Guardians,

Whew we made it!  Undoubtedly this is the fastest year of my professional career and I must say one of the most gratifying.  I would like to thank the Billings community for a warm welcome and all of the support you have given to our students and district as a whole.  I found our teachers and support staff to be top-notch and have been impressed with the dedication and caring attitude they have displayed with our students.  

As I reflect on the year, we are grateful for the support of our high school levy and can’t thank you enough as we move to implement new instructional materials and Career Counselors in our three high schools and the Career Center. We have begun the process of selecting and ordering new curriculum in our math, science, social studies and practical arts courses.  This is very exciting for our teachers and will assist them in offering up-to-date materials needed to continually prepare our students to compete in an ever-changing world.  I will keep you updated as we acquire and implement the new instructional materials.

Recognizing the unprecedented career opportunities students will be exposed to while attending high school, requires a paradigm shift by all of us, along with a modernization of our K-12 system.  We need to prioritize Career and Technical Education (CTE) in partnership with post-secondary educational institutions to give our students the best opportunity to be successful in life.  As a result of the passing of the levy, we will be placing Career Counselors in each of our high schools and the Career Center.  Our focus will be to introduce career awareness and exploration beginning in middle school and supporting those career interest areas in high school through course preparation and work-based learning placements.  We want our school day to look different with a component of learning that is out in the field attached to a career.  The objective of the Career Counselor will be to connect students to real life careers by developing relationships with parents, business owners, industry representatives and post-secondary learning institutions. 

Again, a heartfelt thanks and job well done Billings Montana.  I agree with the vision of the Chamber of Commerce, we are “Better Off In Billings.”  Have a wonderful and safe summer; we will see you in the fall.

Most Respectfully,

Mr. Greg Upham 
Superintendent of Schools

Will James Threat a Hoax

Oct 24, 2019 9:15pm

Dear Parents and Staff,

      Today there was a social media post indicating a threat at Will James.  With the help of the Billings Police Department, it has been verified that it is a hoax and there is no threat. School will operate as normal tomorrow.  

Regards,

Billings Public Schools

Community Correspondence

Weather Advisory

Dear Parents, Students and Staff,

As a result of the current and forecasted road conditions Billings Public Schools will be activating alternate bus stops through Wednesday afternoon (Special needs buses will run normal routes unless otherwise notified by the student’s bus driver).  Please expect possible delays with buses running a bit behind and know that our bus drivers make student safety their number one priority.

Alternate bus stops are as follows:

1. Rehberg Ranch – All bus stops in Rehberg Ranch will be at:

Rifle Creek Trl @ Iron Horse Trl

2. Yellowstone Country Club/Augusta Ranch – All bus stops in Yellowstone Country Club and Augusta Ranch (including Sam Snead Trl) will be at:

54th St W @ Bobby Jones at the Yellowstone Family Park

3. Hidden Lake Subdivision (including Lorraine St and all side streets that feed into Lorraine St)  will be at:  Hwy 87 N @ Lorraine St

4. Interlachen Dr in the Heights will be at: Lakewood @ Interlachen

5. Any streets north of Rimrock Rd will have alternate bus stops ON Rimrock Rd at the intersecting street.  Buses CANNOT travel on these streets when there is excessive snow and ice.

 

Other Inclement Weather Tips

Expect the bus to run late and be prepared for this event.

Please wait at the bus stop with your children until the bus picks them up. Students need the ability to get out of the elements in the event the bus is late.

Observe the following winter safety tips with your students who walk to and from the bus stops or schools:

Dress appropriately for cold weather – sweaters, pants, winter coats, hats, scarves, socks and boots.

Even when on a bus, it may not heat well in extreme cold, may breakdown, or might even get stuck.

Allow extra travel time to get to the bus stop or school.

Wear bright jackets or coats so bus drivers can easily see you in the morning or evening.

Stand at least 10 steps away or back from bus stops. Buses need extra room to stop when there is snow or ice.

Do not walk or play on snow mounds or ice within 10 feet of the roadway – you can fall and slip into the roadway and be at risk of being struck by a vehicle.

Do not cross the street at your bus stop until all traffic has come to a complete stop and the bus driver has signaled that it is safe to cross.

While we attempt to make the best safety decisions for the entire district, we respect the fact that parents must make the final decision on whether their children attend school or not during severe weather conditions. Also, please discourage our high school students from driving in bad conditions and offer them alternatives if weather conditions worsen. 

Additional updates can be found on the Billings Public Schools website.

Read More about Weather Advisory
TIPS FOR PARENTS IN A SCHOOL EMERGENCY

Review these important safety tips in case of an emergency. 

TIPS FOR PARENTS IN A SCHOOL EMERGENCY

❖Everyone’s child is our priority. Adherence to these tips will
help us ensure the safety of all.

❖Because it takes time to gather and disseminate accurate
information, it is likely you will receive social media
information before you receive official communication from
the District. Please don’t overreact, even if that information
comes from your child.

❖Do not call or go to your child’s school.

❖Remain calm and patient. Official communication from our
Superintendent will come via one or more of the following:

● Robo Call
● Email/Text Notification
● District Website
● Television/Radio Alerts

❖If you do hear from your child, please encourage them to
listen to their teachers. Reassure them of their safety.

Read More about TIPS FOR PARENTS IN A SCHOOL EMERGENCY