Alex Sakariassen

Missoula

Journalist with a taste for snow, trout and Montana's wilder places. Now covering education and politics for Montana Free Press. Opinions are my own.

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Articles

Child care and education

3 days ago | mtpr.org | Shaylee Ragar |Victoria Traxler |Alex Sakariassen

It's week 16 of the 69th Legislature is kicking off week 15. Lawmakers have been talking about proposals to improve access to child care and teacher pay. This is 'The Session', a look at the policy and politics inside the Montana statehouse. MTPR's Shaylee Ragar is joined by Alex Sakariassen from Montana Free Press, along with Montana Public Radio's Victoria Traxler. The 69th Legislature is kicking off week 15. Today, we're talking about health policy.
Judge Blocks Federal Government From Revoking Two MSU Students’ F-1 Visas

1 week ago | flatheadbeacon.com | Alex Sakariassen |Kellyn Brown

Education The temporary restraining order also blocks the federal government from arresting, detaining or transferring the students while litigation proceeds By Alex Sakariassen, Montana Free Press April 16, 2025 A federal judge in Butte on Tuesday temporarily blocked the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from revoking the visas of two international students at Montana State University and barred the federal government from arresting, detaining or transferring the individuals outside its...
Montana lawmakers pass bill barring discipline against students who refuse to use peers’ preferred names, pronouns

1 week ago | montanafreepress.org | Alex Sakariassen

The Montana Senate on Friday cast the final vote approving a bill restricting public schools from taking action against students or staff who decline to use the preferred names or pronouns of other individuals — a move supporters have framed as a protection against compelled speech but opponents have criticized as damaging to transgender students. The controversial proposal now passes to Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte for his signature or veto. House Bill 400, sponsored by Rep.
Tessman will be the next president of MSU

2 weeks ago | livingstonenterprise.com | Alex Sakariassen

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Lawmakers advance bill to enhance state support for school infrastructure

2 weeks ago | livingstonenterprise.com | Alex Sakariassen

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Lawmakers advance bill to enhance state support for school infrastructure

2 weeks ago | montanafreepress.org | Alex Sakariassen

For years, Eureka Public Schools has been trying to stay on top of one critical maintenance issue after another. Superintendent Joel Graves describes it as a “constant battle,” one characterized by old roofs, outdated electrical systems and corroded pipes. In 2022, Graves recalled, a rainstorm flooded the middle school’s library and two classrooms just days ahead of the start of the fall semester, shutting down a portion of the 100-year-old building well into December.
Tessman will be the next president of MSU

2 weeks ago | montanafreepress.org | Alex Sakariassen

The Montana Board of Regents on Monday announced Brock Tessman as the new president of Montana State University, concluding the state’s search for a successor to outgoing President Waded Cruzado. Tessman, who is the current president of Northern Michigan University, will take the helm of the Bozeman-based flagship campus July 1.
Montana state budget draft passes initial House vote with bipartisan support

3 weeks ago | montanafreepress.org | Eric Dietrich |Mara Silvers |Alex Sakariassen |Amanda Eggert

Bipartisan support propelled Montana’s next state budget through an initial vote in the House on a 60-39 margin Wednesday, putting an initial stamp of legislative approval on approximately $16.6 billion of spending for the two-year financial cycle that starts July 1.
Lawmakers weigh slew of policies touching on educational goals and instructional quality

3 weeks ago | montanafreepress.org | Alex Sakariassen

State lawmakers in Helena were reminded once again in mid-March of a troubling downward trend in literacy among Montana’s youth. Turning to oft-cited data from annual student assessments, Rep. Linda Reksten, R-Polson, informed legislative colleagues of an 11% decline in eighth-grade reading proficiency over the past two and a half decades.
MSU names two finalists in national search for a new president

1 month ago | montanafreepress.org | Alex Sakariassen

Montana State University announced two finalists this week in its national search for President Waded Cruzado’s successor, naming current University of California, Merced Vice Chancellor for Planning and Budget Kurt Schnier and current Northern Michigan University President Brock Tessman as contenders for the position.