District overview
West Yellowstone School District
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
How is this small district funded?
West Yellowstone is funded the way most Montana school districts are: the state pays most of the basic cost through a per-student formula tied to enrollment (called ANB, or Average Number Belonging). On top of that formula amount, the elected board can add extra local property-tax levies for specific funds -- general operations, transportation, retirement costs, and more -- some of which do not require a public vote. In March 2026 the board proposed using that authority to raise several levies for the 2026-27 school year.
Enrollment sets the state's share
The state calculates ANB (Average Number Belonging) each year. West Yellowstone's FY2026 budget used an ANB of about 214 elementary and 73 high school students -- roughly 287 students total, all housed in one K-12 building.
The board can raise some taxes without a public vote
Under Montana's Senate Bill 307 process, the board can pass a resolution of intent to raise certain 'permissive' levies -- ones state law lets trustees set without asking voters. The board used this authority in March 2026 to propose $128,250 more in property tax for 2026-27.
One board, one school, five trustees
A five-member elected Board of Trustees governs the whole PK-12 district from a single school building. Two of the five seats were up for a mail-ballot election on May 5, 2026.
The district struggles to find fully licensed teachers
In the year reviewed, the district paid to sponsor two teachers' H-1B work visas, offered a cash buyout to veteran teachers, and did not renew four non-tenured teachers whose emergency or provisional teaching licenses expired.
None of this means the district is poorly run. Remote, small Montana districts routinely rely on permissive levies and emergency-licensed teachers because the local labor market for licensed teachers is thin -- the board's own records show it actively managing around that constraint, not ignoring it.
Where the district stands
About 214 elementary and 73 high school ANB, from the district's FY2026 OPI Budget Report. This document falls just outside the reviewed 12-month window, so it is shown as context rather than a collected-source figure.
5.25 more mills district-wide, proposed at the March 10, 2026 board meeting for fiscal year 2026-27.
A 235-day contract, a 3.1% raise from the prior year, approved May 19, 2026.
A 198-day contract, a 3.33% raise from the prior year, approved May 19, 2026.
Up $4,888 from the prior year, renewed June 16, 2026.
Each was on an emergency authorization or an expiring provisional license, not renewed for cause.
The district posts an agenda for every meeting, but only occasionally links a written draft-minutes document. Most vote outcomes in this record come from the agenda's own recommendation language, not a confirmed roll call.
Major projects
2026-27 permissive fund levy increase (SB 307)
in_progressThe board proposed raising five permissive fund levies for fiscal year 2026-27 -- General, Retirement, Transportation, Tuition, and Adult Education -- adding $128,250 in tax revenue and 5.25 mills district-wide. The board cited rising bus, retirement-system, and special-education paraprofessional costs.
- Board's agenda proposes the SB 307 resolution of intent to increase permissive levies
Funding
Local property-tax mill levies, set by the board without a public vote under Montana's permissive-levy law
Estimated added cost of about $20/year on a $400,000 home and $40/year on an $800,000 home, using current taxable values.
Teacher recruitment and retention
in_progressWest Yellowstone is a remote, small district and has had trouble filling every teaching seat with a fully licensed teacher. Over the reviewed year, the district sponsored two teachers' H-1B work visas, offered a one-time cash or insurance buyout to teachers with 10+ years of service, and did not renew four non-tenured teachers whose emergency or provisional licenses expired.
- Board approves a one-time buyout for teachers with 10+ years of service
- Board pays half the premium-processing fee for two teachers' H-1B visas ($2,805 of $7,725 total)
- Board does not renew three more non-tenured teachers on expiring emergency or provisional licenses
Funding
General fund (visa fees, buyout payments)
The full cost of the teacher buyout program was not stated in the collected agendas; it depends on how many teachers accept it.
Every board meeting agenda published in the district's Google Doc meeting index for the past year was read, along with every minutes, resolution, or agreement document the district linked from inside those agendas. Figures marked verified come from one of those documents; other figures are marked context.
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