January 21, 2025
Hey Y’all,
Hopefully everyone is staying warm during this cold snap. I read that Our Place closed, but that a New Place has been located in the old ReStore Building, in the industrial area near the railroad tracks and National Avenue. Perhaps Emily McVey can give us an update on that this week. It’s a relief to all of us who know the situation and learn about it at Hometown Helena. I’m sure it’s an even bigger relief to our neighbors in need of shelter. My old friend Utah Phillps used to say the first rule of bumming is ’south in the winter, north in the summer.’ It’s not that simple, however. We’ve learned a lot over the last several years. Emily and Jeff Buscher and others in the helping community here tell us that the majority of people without stable, permanent housing are, in fact, Helena people: single mothers, youths or young adults, under-employed people, people with disabilities, people unable to find rentals due to lack of them, or the high cost these days.
We have another fine program arranged for you this week. We’re going to be joined by Rob Watson, Executive Director of the School Administrators of Montana; and by a couple of members of the Legislature: Representative Julie Darling (R-East Helena) and Senator Josh Kassmier (R-Fort Benton). We all know Rep. Darling. Kassmier is a 2004 graduate of Carroll and has been in the legislature since 2019.
Representative Darling and Senator Kassmier are members of the 'Solutions Caucus' of the Republican Party. This group, this Caucus is comprised of self-described moderates who have been attempting to bridge the partisan divide(s) in the Legislature, and craft workable solutions to the issues that confront Montana, including the state budget, taxes, and school funding. If memory serves, the Solutions Caucus formed in 2019 around the issue of Medicaid expansion in Montana. And they have been around and active every session since then. Here’s a brief description of the Solution Caucus from an announcement it made back in 2019 or 2021:
"We are radically transparent Conservative Republican Legislators dedicated to finding common sense economic, education, healthcare, and infrastructure solutions that build a better Montana."
The School Administrators of Montana (SAM) are on the front lines of the debate over school funding. They are often caught between the state legislature and their local voters. At the end of the day, it is the administrators who have to make it all work, and provide the ‘free, basic, quality education’ the 1972 Montana Constitution guarantees to all students. Below is a brief description of SAM from the website:
"SAM was organized as an association of administrators in 1971. SAM represents the interests, aspirations, and professional leadership of Montana administrators. Over 1,000 members network under six affiliate associations to promote GREAT Montana Schools, supporting leaders passion for providing an outstanding education to Montana's children!"
We have the wherewithal for a great discussion with Mr. Watson, Rep. Darling and Sen. Kassmier this week at Hometown Helena. Please join us in person this Thursday morning at Helena College, from 7-8am. Or Zoom into the meeting, courtesy of Aja Rail and the good folks at Pinion Global, Inc. You’ll learn a lot.
Jim Smith
406-949-1002
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