A Message from Superintendent Casey Klasna: Welcome to the New School Year!
Dear Columbus School District Community,
Welcome to the start of another fantastic school year at Columbus Public Schools! Thank you for your continued trust and partnership as we welcome your students back to our classrooms. Columbus Public Schools is a wonderful place to learn, thanks to our dedicated, experienced staff. Our team has worked tirelessly to prepare for the return of our students, and I am thrilled to report a smooth and successful start across all of our buildings.
Academic Excellence & Student Growth
This year, we are taking several exciting steps forward in our classrooms:
New Reading Curriculum: We are officially rolling out an updated elementary reading curriculum to strengthen literacy foundations for our students.
Cougar Boost: Our new early kindergarten program, Cougar Boost,will start next week to give our youngest learners a strong head start. We are thrilled to launch this program with a full roster of students
Electives & Course Offerings: We are proud to offer our middle and high school students a rich variety of courses and electives, empowering them to explore unique interests, gain practical skills, and personalize their academic pathway.
K–8 Title I Progress: We continue to make great progress with our K–8 Title I program, providing targeted instructional support and dedicated resources to ensure all students build strong academic foundations.
Strategic Plan Alignment: Every initiative we undertake this year aligns with our long-term Strategic Plan. This was collaboratively developed by school board trustees, teachers, and administration to ensure continuous growth district-wide.
School Safety & Security
Ensuring a safe, secure learning environment for our students and staff remains our top priority. We continue to make great progress on security enhancements across all buildings to ensure our schools are as safe as possible. A key player in these efforts is our dedicated School Resource Officer (SRO) Zachary, whose daily presence, leadership, and proactive care help safeguard our buildings while building strong, positive relationships with our students.
Facilities & Campus Update
Our facilities are in great shape overall, with key improvement projects moving forward smoothly:
Middle School Gym: Repairs on the west wall of the MS gym are actively underway to ensure a safe learning environment. Work is expected to wrap up by next week.
New Bus Barn: Construction on our new bus barn remains right on track, and we anticipate transitioning into the new facility around December.
Athletics & Co-Curriculars
Fall sports and activities are off and running! We are seeing high participation rates across all clubs and athletics, and we invite the entire community to come out and cheer on our Cougars. Join us this Saturday as we host a volleyball tournament at the high school.
Our Community & Staff Support
Columbus Public Schools is the heartbeat of the community. A district is only as strong as its people. We are tremendously blessed with dedicated, highly skilled teachers and exceptional support staff who go above and beyond every day. We are also deeply grateful to our School Board, whose leadership keeps our district moving forward.
Current District Needs
Like many districts, we are navigating a few staffing shortages. We are actively seeking full-time and part-time team members in the following areas:
Custodial Staff
Food Service Personnel
Substitute Teachers
Our current staff has demonstrated incredible flexibility and teamwork, but extra hands are always welcome. If you or someone you know is interested in joining the Cougar team, please consider applying. If interested, please contact me at the school at 406-322-5373.
Stay Connected & Get in Touch
Staying informed about district news, schedules, and updates is easier than ever:
Website: Visit our official district website www.columbuscougars.com for announcements, school calendars, and community resources.
District App: Download the Columbus Public Schools mobile app (available on the Apple App Store and Google Play) to receive real-time notifications directly to your phone.
We Want to Hear From You
Open communication and strong community partnerships are vital to our success. My door is always open, and I encourage parents, staff, and community members to reach out with questions, feedback, or ideas. Please feel free to contact my office at 406-322-5373 or reach out via email at cklasna@columbus.k12.mt.us. I look forward to connecting with you throughout the school year.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Let’s make this school year our best one yet
Warm regards,
Casey Klasna
Superintendent, Columbus Public Schools
Go Cougars!