Sponsors

The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation supports a broad spectrum of worthy organizations benefiting at-risk youth, economically and socially disadvantaged individuals and families, and those with special needs.

The Office of Public Instruction is one of Montana’s five constitutionally recognized offices headed by a statewide elected official. Every four years, Montanans elect a Superintendent of Public Instruction to manage the OPI. The OPI serves as Montana’s state education agency. Montana is a ‘local control in education state’ so much of the decision-making in education happens in our state’s over 400 local school districts by a locally elected board of trustees. The OPI exists to serve students, parents, and local schools.

Architecture, Planning, Interior Design

Since 1981, SMA Architecture + Design has provided architectural services to educational, civic, county, institutional, private and commercial clients throughout the intermountain west. Led by Jason M. Davis, Tim Meldrum, Klint Fisher, Mark Ophus, and Charley Franklin. SMA is committed to providing the best possible project, all while ensuring the process is enjoyable. Over the years, SMA has expanded our capabilities and staff, and now have offices in both Helena and Bozeman. We believe we are in the business of not only designing great buildings, but more importantly, building relationships with our clients.

Our educational portfolio includes all scales of projects from K-12 public education, higher education to early learning centers. Ranging from new construction to renovations and additions, our goal is to first realize the vision of our clients. Moreover, we’re committed to planning educational facilities that function far into the future, and are focused on flexibility that accomodates changing pedagogy, technology needs, and enrollment.

By creatively designing functional facilities for the students, teachers, communities and staff, we strive to find a balance between future needs and a feasible budget. Our long-term needs assessment often includes cost- estimating, utilization studies, enrollment projections, programming, and bond campaign support. This process yields a high return for public projects that lead to successful schools for many years to come.

Additionally, SMA is aware of how rapidly 21st century education evolves. To stay at the forefront of educational design philosophies, we are active in professional organizations and reguarly attend conferences surrounding current topics such as safety and security, school design, technology needs and more.

Our firm is rich in experience and has a staff that is balanced from all aspects of architectural and interior design, and construction. We pride ourselves on client satisfaction and work hard to achieve the vision and goals set forth by you: our client.

SMA is an active member of the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE).

Our mission is to cultivate collaborative partnerships, systems and practices to enhance physical and emotional safety and well-being of Montana school communities through training and technical assistance, research and resources, and tele-mental health support to schools and communities across Montana. Through partnerships with schools, districts, families and community stakeholders, we assist in the adaptation of systems and practices to improve students’ physical and emotional safety and school climate. We believe that training, resources, and support contribute to school’s ability to sustain safe and healthy school environments.

The combined Jeremy Bullock Memorial Trust and Charities Through Jeremy were established in memory of Jeremy Bullock in 1994 following his tragic death at Margaret Leary Elementary School in Butte, Montana. Jeremy was the unintended victim of a school shooting on April 12, 1994. The trust and foundation were established initially to construct and maintain a sports complex adjacent to the Margaret Leary school, as well as to provide funding for local organizations in support of student safety – both in memory of Jeremy and to aid students of Montana.