Issues facicng ag and education

It is the time of year that agriculture, education, political, and any other meetings you can think of are happening. On top of that, it is campaign season.

As I mentioned in my last article, I am again vying for the Senate District 14 position, and therefore fully into campaign mode.

Campaigning is a busy season, but I appreciate the opportunity to connect with constituents both in person and through other media platforms. If there are issues you’d like to discuss or if you’d like to get involved with my campaign, please reach out to me in person or online via russtempelformtsenate.com, the email listed at the bottom of the article, or through Facebook/russtempelformtsenate. I have appreciated your support in the past and hope to earn it again for another four.

At a local ag meeting I attended and then again at the most recent interim Agriculture Committee meeting had folks asking about foreign ownership of land, which is an issue of concern to many. In our interim Education Committee meeting, we heard more information from schools having trouble getting food delivered and who are hoping to figure out how to source Montana-grown products. I feel fortunate to be involved with both committees and at the intersection between Montana ag and Montana education helping to figure out how we might bring the two together to solve issues our state is facing.

The other challenge both ag and education industries are facing is a critical shortage of teachers and folks to work in ag-related businesses. People are moving to Montana, but they don’t seem to need to work. The unemployment rate hit 2.5 percent, which is the lowest it has been in decades. Everywhere I have traveled throughout Montana recently, I have seen help wanted signs posted. There are discussions happening to brainstorm ways to encourage educators to move to rural Montana schools; offering benefits and money are the motivations that are hopefully going to work. The same is true for medical staff. At present, nurses and certified nurse assistants can do a traveling program that pays over twice what are being paid locally. COVID-19 and the ensuing pandemic-related impacts have thrown our system out of sync.

As I mentioned in the past, our Education Committee is doing a study on incarcerated folks’ ability to obtain education. As near as I can understand, the situation is specific to individual facilities. There seems to be a blame on budgeting. Whether it is lack of money available or the allocation of resources, putting the money where it should be spent falls to each facility’s discretion.

The five district boundaries of the Public Service Commission are not in alignment with the original intent of the districts, for example similar populations in each district. The boundaries must be redone before an election can be held for a currently open seat. There are a couple of maps that meet the criteria, and my hopes is one or the other is accepted by the courts. If not, there may be a special session called. That would be a very expensive way to handle this issue.

Have a great rest of the winter and be safe.

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Sen. Russ Tempel, R-Chester, can be emailed at [email protected].