The Missoula County Public Schools Board of Trustees voted unanimously to be the first school district in Montana to join a forthcoming lawsuit against the state arguing the current contributions to school funding don’t meet the state’s constitutional obligation to a free, quality public education.

During the board’s meeting Tuesday night, attorney from Helena-based law firm Upper Seven Law Andres Haladay introduced eight categories of funding for which he said the state was not providing the appropriate money, including special education, curriculum, infrastructure and technology.

“It does not appear that the state of Montana is complying with its constitutional obligation to adequately fund public schools,” Haladay said.

Haladay said the timing of the lawsuit, which has yet to be file

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