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Community Members Discuss Billings Education Developments
Updates on school facilities, language programs, teacher pay and afterschool funding are shaping conversations among families and staff in Billings.
How we reported this
Billings School District 2 plans to buy a former Rocky Mountain Bank building for $4.5 million in March 2026 to grow its health sciences program, which currently has a waitlist of about 100 students.
Facility Expansion for Health Sciences
The purchase targets space needs at a time when interest in the program exceeds current capacity. Families with students on the waitlist have followed the district announcement closely as they consider course options for the coming years. The move adds dedicated rooms for hands-on training that were previously unavailable in existing buildings.
Support for English Learners and Summer Reading
Billings Public Schools opened a charter academy in fall 2024 focused on English learners after the number of such students rose from 25 in 2015-16 to 348 by fall 2023. The Billings Education Foundation awarded $150,000 in classroom grants last year and runs weekly Reading Rocks events in city parks to limit summer learning loss. Parents of English learners note the new academy offers targeted schedules that align with family work hours, while participants in the park programs report steady reading practice during breaks from regular classes.
Teacher Pay and Afterschool Funding
Billings teachers secured higher wages for the new school year, with starting pay at $50,000 for staff holding a bachelor’s degree and up to $58,000 for those with a master’s degree. Separately, $6 million in federal afterschool funds reached Montana after an earlier pause, supporting programs in Billings and nearby counties. Educators and parents involved in afterschool activities describe the restored resources as allowing continued staffing for homework help and enrichment sessions that many households rely on during the workweek.
These changes affect daily routines for students, teachers and families across the district. The health sciences expansion, language academy, grant-supported events, updated salaries and restored afterschool dollars each address different pressure points reported by participants in local schooling. District communications and foundation updates continue to outline timelines for implementation, giving community members concrete details to review as they plan participation in the affected programs.