A Forsyth legislator hopes a recent proposal to offer free tuition at the state’s two-year institutions leads to further discussion on education funding across the state.
The proposal for free college tuition came from House Minority Leader Casey Schreiner (D-Great Falls), who also is a gubernatorial candidate in the 2020 election.
“This is the best chance we have to grow the Montana economy,” Schreiner said in a story published by the Great Falls Tribune. “We need an influx of business, we need an influx of population and this is the best path to get there. We need to make investments.”
Sen. Geraldine Custer
“It is a great idea, I give him credit for that, but he didn’t have a plan for funding it," state Sen. Geraldine Custer (R-Forsyth) told the Southeast Montana News. "That’s what worries me.”
Education at two-year colleges provides valuable career training in trades where the state desperately needs more workers, Custer added, and some sort of incentive program may be viable.
“If we want to be competing on the market for employees, we need to do an incentive program that makes sense,” Custer said. “Even if everybody stays in Montana, I don’t know if we will have enough workforce in the coming years.”
As Montana’s rural population continues to decrease, Custer suggested legislators and other stakeholders could also take a look at low enrollment districts and how funding might be better used.
“It seems with money so tight, maybe it’s time for an overhaul," Custer said. "Too many institutions are getting harder and harder to maintain. There’s a lot of openings for teachers, shortened school weeks, combined classes, and it’s hard to attract people unless you’re here and see the beauty.”
“I live in an area with tiny little schools in close proximity trying to maintain their classes,” Custer added. “I see it in my area, and I know it’s every rural area.”
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