Billings School District Expands Health Sciences Program with New Building Purchase

The district plans to move administrative offices to a former bank building to create more classroom space for its popular and overcrowded health sciences program.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 3:04pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a hospital bed repeated in a grid pattern, conceptually representing the growth of Billings' health sciences education program.A bold, pop art-inspired illustration celebrates the expansion of Billings' health sciences education program, providing more opportunities for local students to pursue in-demand healthcare careers.Billings Today

Billings School District 2 is moving forward with plans to purchase a $4.5 million downtown building to expand its health sciences program. The district will relocate its administrative offices to the former Rocky Mountain Bank building, freeing up space in the Lincoln Center for the growing health sciences program, which currently has a waitlist of around 100 students.

Why it matters

The health sciences program is one of the district's most popular offerings, providing students with hands-on training and a pathway to in-demand healthcare careers. By expanding the program, the district hopes to keep more local students in the community for their education and future employment.

The details

The health sciences program currently serves around 500 students at the Billings Career Center, but has a waitlist of about 100 more students who want to enroll. The program offers training in areas like nursing, with students getting experience in patient care and medical equipment. By moving the district's administrative offices out of the Lincoln Center, the second and third floors will become available for expanded health sciences classrooms and labs.

  • The district plans to purchase the former Rocky Mountain Bank building in March 2026.
  • The health sciences charter school at the Lincoln Center is anticipated to be ready for the 2027-2028 school year.

The players

Billings School District 2

The public school district serving the Billings, Montana area, which is expanding its popular health sciences program by purchasing a new downtown building.

Kristy Martinez

A nurse practitioner and teacher who oversees students in a health class at the Billings Career Center.

Katherine Gause

A senior in the health sciences program who hopes to work as a certified nursing assistant and then pursue further nursing education.

Christine Simonsen

The district's director of health sciences and community education, who is developing a health science charter school in the Lincoln Center.

Dr. Erwin Garcia

The Billings School District 2 superintendent, who says the district can provide healthcare education and career opportunities to keep local students in the community.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“My goal is to work as a CNA. To get past my practical exam and then start working my way up and going to college for a practical nurse and maybe try to go for a registered nurse and whatever else I can.”

— Katherine Gause, Health sciences program student

“By being down here in the Lincoln Center downtown, students will potentially have the opportunity to work with some of our medical community and the partnerships we're building. We hope that we can keep the youth here in our community rather than them going out of state for education or for jobs. We can provide those opportunities right here.”

— Christine Simonsen, Director of health sciences and community education

“Many of our kids are choosing to drop out because they don't see a pathway moving forward. But we can absolutely hear and find those themes of the things that they want to achieve and attain, and one of those is healthcare sciences.”

— Dr. Erwin Garcia, School District 2 superintendent

What’s next

The district plans to complete the purchase of the former Rocky Mountain Bank building in March 2026 and have the new health sciences charter school ready for the 2027-2028 school year.

The takeaway

By expanding its popular health sciences program and creating a new charter school, Billings School District 2 is investing in the future of its students and the local healthcare workforce. This move demonstrates the district's commitment to providing quality education and career opportunities to keep young people in the community.