Turner School District received news on September 10 that they are recipients of a grant that will enable them to provide additional education on the culture and history of Montana American Indians. The Indian Education for All Division of the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) awarded Turner School $3,400.

According to Superintendent of Turner Public School, Tony Warren, the money will be used to buy K-12 book sets and to bring in tribal speakers. The grant will also help expand education beyond the walls of the classroom for the district’s 64 students. All grade levels will travel to both the Blaine County Museum and the Bear Paw Battlefield to learn more about the area’s Native American history and its significance. Although only an hour away, few Turner students have had an opportunity to visit the battlefield.

Combined with classroom learning, the field trips provide an opportunity for deepening students’ understanding of the American Indian culture and experience. “This grant gives our district the ability to provide a great learning opportunity for our students. We would not be able to bring in outside speakers, purchase additional book sets, or go on these field trips without these additional financial resources,” Warren said.

This OPI grant is the most recent in a string of small grants received by the Turner School District. Previous grants include

• Humanities Montana Grant to bring Annishinaabe artist and cultural consultant Louise Fischer to the school this month;

• Triangle Communications’ Technology Program funds to purchase document cameras for all teachers;

• Montana Masonic Foundation Grant for the library to buy a cart, a mobile book display, classroom novel sets for grades 7-12, and books on Montana history and culture;

• Local Community Grant from Walmart to purchase physical education and weight room equipment.

• DonorsChoose effort that successfully funded supplies for promoting physical activity; and

• OPI school safety grant to conduct a Youth Mental Health training.

Warren contends that small grants like these can make a big difference for rural schools, and he plans to continue looking for outside funding. “We have a great staff and great kids. We want to provide the best education possible, and the outside funding helps us to continue to update and expand learning opportunities for our students.”