Dear Malta Public Schools Families, Staff, and Community Members,
One of my responsibilities as Superintendent is to help our community understand not only what is happening in our schools, but also why. I believe our stakeholders deserves an open and honest understanding of both the opportunities and the challenges facing Malta Public Schools. Transparency is essential to building trust, and understanding those challenges is the first step toward finding meaningful, long-term solutions.
Recently, the announcement that Malta Public Schools will not offer Band during the 2026-2027 school year understandably generated disappointment and questions throughout our community. Band has long been an important part of the educational experience and a source of pride in Malta, and we share that disappointment. While we remain hopeful that a qualified applicant may still emerge, the start of the school year is quickly approaching, and we must also responsibly prepare for the beginning of the year without a Band teacher.
Many community members have understandably asked how we arrived at this point. While most personnel matters are confidential and the District cannot discuss details of individual employment decisions, I believe it is important to explain the process we follow and the broader challenges that shaped this outcome.
Every staffing decision must be based on our commitment to best serve our students. Our responsibility is not simply to fill positions. Our responsibility is to use our professional judgement to ensure students receive a high-quality educational experience from every educator who serves them. That commitment requires us to maintain high expectations for every position in our district, even when doing so may create short-term staffing challenges.
Once the Band position became vacant, the District immediately began recruiting for a certified replacement. We interviewed qualified candidates and extended multiple employment offers. Unfortunately, none of those offers were accepted.
The same challenge occurred with our High School Social Studies position. Qualified candidates were interviewed, offers were extended, and ultimately those offers were also declined. As a result, Principal Bleth and I will each teach high school Social Studies classes this year while continuing to fulfill our administrative responsibilities.
These are not the outcomes we hoped for. They are, however, becoming increasingly common realities for rural schools throughout Montana and across the nation.
Staffing challenges have been quietly reshaping schools for years. The absence of a Band program has simply brought into public view a challenge that educators have been working to overcome behind the scenes for a long time. The educational experience changes, not all at once, but gradually.
Along with the current challenges, over the past several years Malta Public Schools has experienced staffing shortages in several major academic areas.
Family and Consumer Sciences: Four years without a certified teacher resulted in approximately six middle and high school courses disappearing from the schedule.
Agricultural Education: Multiple years without a certified Agriculture teacher reduced agriculture offerings, limited welding opportunities, eliminated middle school woodshop, and required teachers from other departments to assume agriculture instruction so FFA could continue.
Science: The high school recently operated for an entire school year with only one high school science teacher. Required science courses continued to be offered, but several science electives disappeared.
Physical Education and Health: Staffing shortages gradually reduced course offerings while making scheduling increasingly difficult and limiting student opportunities.
World Languages: Eight years without a certified foreign language teacher has required students to rely primarily on online coursework rather than receiving in-person instruction.
Music: Choir continued because dedicated staff members and community members stepped forward when certified applicants could not be found.
These staffing challenges have been met through extraordinary commitment rather than public attention. Teachers have taken on additional courses, learned new subject areas, and given up electives they enjoyed so required classes could continue. Counselors stepped into music programs, retired teachers returned to the classroom, community members filled critical roles, and administrators continued teaching while leading their schools. Because of their willingness to step forward, our students have continued to receive the educational opportunities they deserve.
Although I am still new to Malta, I have already been incredibly impressed by the dedication of our educators, support staff, administrators, coaches, volunteers, and community members. Their unwavering commitment to students, willingness to go above and beyond, and genuine pride in this district give me great confidence in the future of Malta Public Schools.
Our search for a qualified Band teacher continues, and we remain committed to restoring a strong band program. Until that happens, we will continue exploring creative solutions and community partnerships to ensure our students have meaningful opportunities to participate in music throughout the school year. Malta has a proud tradition of excellence, and our commitment to students has never been stronger.
We will continue recruiting outstanding educators, supporting the exceptional staff already serving our students, and working together with honesty, collaboration, and an unwavering focus on what is best for kids. Thank you for your partnership, your trust, and your continued support.
With Gratitude and Optimism,
Dylan MacLean
Superintendent
Malta Public Schools