Lone Rock School District Seeks Technology and Safety Levies

Stevensville school district looks to update aging infrastructure and security measures through new ballot measures.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 11:03pm

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Stevensville's Lone Rock School District is placing two new levies on the ballot - a $100,000 annual technology levy and a $50,000 safety levy. The technology levy would cover costs for electrical systems, heating, student computers, internet access, and cybersecurity, freeing up general fund dollars for education. The safety levy would improve campus security through updated cameras and infrastructure. The levies would cost homeowners with a $300,000 home just under $30 and $15 per year respectively.

Why it matters

Schools in Montana must cover 20% of their budgets through local levies, as the state only provides 80% of funding. Lone Rock's technology levy has not been updated since 2004, despite rising costs. The new levies would allow the district to modernize its technology and security while protecting education funding.

The details

Lone Rock School District's current $19,650 technology levy from 2004 covers only a fraction of its $126,000 annual technology costs. The new $100,000 levy would fully fund technology needs like electrical systems, heating, student computers, internet, and cybersecurity monitoring. This would free up general fund dollars to better support education. The $50,000 safety levy would improve campus security through updated cameras and infrastructure.

  • Lone Rock School District last ran a technology levy in 2004.
  • The new technology and safety levies will be on the ballot in 2026.

The players

Teresa Weems

Superintendent of Lone Rock School District.

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What they’re saying

“Right now we're spending about $126,000 on technology with a $19,000 levy, so the cost per student has increased. Moving that money out of our general fund is compromising how we educate students. It's important that we free up our general fund and move that to a technology fund.”

— Teresa Weems, Superintendent

“I just want our community to know, we take this very serious. Asking them for more of their hard-earned money is not easy. It is something we don't take lightly.”

— Teresa Weems, Superintendent

What’s next

Voters in Stevensville will decide on the technology and safety levies in the 2026 election.

The takeaway

Lone Rock School District's aging technology infrastructure and security needs require new funding sources, which the district hopes to secure through voter-approved levies. This will allow the district to modernize its systems while protecting education budgets.