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Articles written by Alex Sakariassen


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  • Teacher retention, wages hot topics at meeting of state education officials

    Alex Sakariassen, Montana Free Press|Updated Jun 25, 2024

    Discussing likely areas for future policy improvement in Montana's K-12 school system at a meeting in the state Capitol Monday, officials with the Office of Public Instruction highlighted teacher retention as a continued challenge across the state, noting that Montana public schools lost 2,039 educators to attrition during the 2021-22 academic year. According to the presentation, given by OPI Chief Operating Officer Julie Murgel during a meeting of key lawmakers and education...

  • Grizzly Bear Advisory Council struggles with 'herculean' challenge in Missoula

    Alex Sakariassen, Montana Free Press|Updated Dec 11, 2019

    MISSOULA - Chad Bauer, a member of Gov. Steve Bullock's Grizzly Bear Citizen Advisory Council, expressed a sense of urgency and unease on the second morning of the council's Dec. 4-5 meeting in Missoula. Bauer and Bullock sat across from each other in a crowded conference room on the University of Montana campus. Bullock had recently announced the end of his presidential campaign, and Bauer, who works as a municipal market manager for Missoula waste hauler Republic Services,...