1. SAM Topic Brief - Administrative Licensure Fees: OPIs Proposal to raise the licensure fees from $30 to $275 for the MT Admin License.
2. SAM Topic Brief -  3Ps Bill List: 2023 legislative summary, reference guide to bills that impact Policy, Procedures & Practices.
3. SAM Topic Brief - New Graduation Requirements: summary document which explains addition of Financial Literacy to graduation requirements under revised Chapter 55.
4. Accreditation Process: Updates and checklist from OPI compass, September 2023
5. 95 Mills Discussion: MTSBA Memo drafted by Lance Melton in August 2023, describes history and legal requirements of 95 Mills calculation.
6. Connecting with OPI: Information and links regarding weekly "office hours" hosted by OPI staff as well as other ways to connect with OPI.

• SAM LPLP 2023-24
• SAM LPLP 2023-24 includes access to a coach/mentor
• MASS will pay the registration fee for all superintendents new to their positions.
• Register at SAM LPLP 2023-24
• SEL for Educational Leaders PLC (this cohort is full)
• Reduce workplace stress and burnout to increase retention.
• Build your capacity for resilience, building relationships, positive communication and effective collaborative practices.
• Enhance school cultures that ensure effective learning and well-being for every child in your care.
• SAM Aspiring Principal Certification Program
• Help to "rebuild" the Principal pipeline by recommending a future leader from your district.
• This webinar series will be hosted by three recently retired Principal Mentors from Montana.
• This cohort is designed for those who are aspiring towards school leadership. It does not matter if they have completed their coursework or if they have not yet started. All interested are encouraged to apply.
• DEADLINE for application/recommendation is September 8. Register HERE

• Current Award Opportunities
• G.V. Erickson Award -  Nominations are open until Friday, September 29, 2023: The G.V. Erickson Award is given to a member of the School Administrators of Montana who has made the greatest contribution to the betterment of education in Montana; something that G.V. did throughout his career. This is the most honored award a school administrator of Montana can receive.
• Erdie Memorial Scholarship - Applications will be accepted until Friday, September 29, 2023:  A Dr. Jay Erdie Memorial Mentor Scholarship in the amount of $1000 will be awarded annually to a deserving educator. The purpose of the scholarship is to “train and mentor” new Montana school administrators. The scholarship will be awarded to a school administration candidate who plans to begin and/or complete his/her administrative credentials and intends to work in a Montana school district. Once the candidate has secured a position and notified the SAM office, a trained mentor will be provided through the SAM Leaders Professional Learning Program to assist during his/her first year on the job.

• MASS Outstanding School Board of the Year Award - Applications will be accepted until Friday, September 29, 2023: The purpose of the award is to recognize and focus attention on the dedicated and ethical service rendered by school boards to the children of Montana.  Nominations for the MASS School Board Awards may be submitted by any Montana Superintendent of Schools. The MASS Executive Board recommends that each of the nine regions submit a nomination. Two Outstanding School Boards in Montana will be chosen. The winners will be announced at the annual MCEL meeting in October.

• AASA Conference Incentive Award - Applications will be accepted until Friday, September 29, 2023:  The Montana Association of School Superintendents Incentive Award Program is intended to provide a special opportunity for MASS members to attend the AASA National Conference on Education (NCE) that will be held in San Diego February 15-17, 2024.

• MASSP Assistant Principal of the Year - Applications will be accepted until Friday, October 13, 2023:  This award recognizes outstanding school leaders who have succeeded in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students.  The program honors high school assistant principals who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of personal excellence; collaborative leadership; curriculum, instruction and assessment; and personalization.  To be eligible, the nominee must be an active assistant principal and have been an active assistant principal for at least three consecutive years.

• Current Leadership Opportunities 

• Upcoming SAM Events:
• September 18-19:  MASS Fall Conference
• October 18-20:  MCEL
• January 21-23:  Montana Principals Conference, Butte
• March 11-12:  MASS/METAtechED Spring Conference, Helena

 "Did You Know"...Telling Your Story of Personalized Learning and Innovations

"Did You Know"...Telling Your Story of Personalized Learning and Innovations was an effort to collect information about our public schools.  We know that the value our schools bring to local communities enriches the lives of not only our students but our communities and the entire state.  Statistical information about student performance, and financial information about our schools, tell only a part of the story, and our ability to "Tell Our Story" is so important in providing a deeper, more meaningful look at the value of our public schools.  Many joined this effort to describe the ways our schools are making a difference in our communities for our children.

Follow this link to review the stories that were collected:  Innovations in Montana Public Schools.  The information can then be used by all of us to "Tell Our Story" to audiences who want to know more , about the value of our schools.

Other Links & Resources

• SAM Schedule of Conferences and Board Meetings
• SAM Friday Update
• SAM Membership Report
• SAM 50 Year Anniversary Celebration

• Suicide Prevention resources are available through the University of Montana  Safe Schools Center (MSSC) at https://www.umt.edu/education/specunits/montana_safe_schools_center/.
• The updated Montana CAST-S Toolkit was developed by co-authors Dr. Scott Poland and Dr. Donna Poland in collaboration with Montana OPI, SAM, DPHHS, Montana Association of Pediatric Psychiatrists, and NAMI Montana for the express use by Montana schools:  Montana's CAST-S 2022 
• The 2017 edition of the Montana Crisis Action Toolkit on Suicide (MT-CAST-S 2017) was developed in a collaboration between the Big Sky Council and NAMI Montana to support Montana school communities in meeting requirements of Montana state legislative statutes HB381 (2017) and HB374 (2019)

• Montana Unified School Trust (MUST), is excited to be able to offer Montana’s public schools additional flexibility and efficiencies in their funding of employee health benefits. Public schools now have the option to participate in the MUST Multidistrict Agreement to support services and activities for the funding and operations related to their employee health benefits. Visit the MUST Benefits - Multidistrict Agreement webpage for more information. (January 10, 2020)

• Sample Administrator Employment Contracts  View sample superintendent and principal contracts with innovative language

• SAM 2023 Travel Expense Form Template