THE MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FUNDS SIX K-12 SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO KILL SPOTTED KNAPWEED

The Montana Department of Transportation wants to take a new approach to help knock out spotted knapweed with a one-two punch.

Currently, MDT is helping fund six K-12 school systems that are either growing, or are planning to grow insectaries that will cultivate insects used to kill spotted knapweed. Students will hand harvest the insects and release them onto MDT's right-of-ways and neighboring lands that are infected by this noxious weed.

According to Dan Williams, MDT maintenance division, many landowners are jumping at the opportunity for students to release the insects adjacent to their property. The insects are host specific and feed solely on spotted knapweed.

MDT has obligated $35,000 to their biological program to purchase and release the insects within select counties, as well as develop the insectaries located at each school.

The school systems currently involved are Bonner Junior High, Darby Public Schools, Noxon Public Schools, Eureka County Public Schools, Victor High Schools, and Whitehall High School. A seventh school in Seeley Lake is also looking to join the fight. MDT is funding each program with $2,500 each year, for two years. Whitehall's program includes a training program for educators and therefore is receiving $5,000 each year, for two years.

"We are attacking knapweed through air strikes and ground strikes," said Williams.

The schools are using root boring weevils and seed head moths as their ammunition. The insectaries are about 100-foot-by-30-foot rectangular pieces of land that are enclosed by metal flashing that is inserted four inches into the ground, and protrude eight inches high. Knapweed is planted within the metal flashing and purchased insects are then placed inside the insectaries. Williams estimated the female insects may lay 100 larvas annually and the surviving insects multiply by as much as 90-times their original amount.

After the insects have matured, the students capture and release them along appropriate roadways and fields. Students then monitor progress through the use of a GPS-system, which locates the sights and photographs the area. The GPS-system also allows the students to monitor the progress of the insects and reduction of knapweed plants by counting the insect to knapweed plant ratio.

Root boring weevils kill knapweed by burrowing into the plant's root system and eating the root. The seed head moths land on the plant's blossoms and lay larva on the plant's seeds. The larva, when hatched, feed on the florets and seeds of the spotted knapweed. This inhibits the seeds from dispersing creating more of the noxious weed.

The two insect species being used were the same ones that kept the noxious weed under control in Asia, which is where spotted knapweed is believed to have come from. By reintroducing the two, MDT hopes to help balance the plant ecosystem.

The biological approach is a "slowly but surely" method because as the insects travel, they kill knapweed and inhibit future growth. Chemical herbicides, although immediately effective, kill only the sprayed weeds and the chemicals used do not spread beyond that specific area.

According to Williams, MDT can spray and kill knapweed along highways, but if the adjacent landowner is not able to maintain the knapweed, it will simply redevelop.

Knapweed was introduced to Montana in the early 1900s and now contaminates all 56 Montana counties, it is considered Montana's number one problem weed. Knapweed spreads rapidly by seeds hitching rides on vehicles, humans, animals, and through wind and water. Seeds can remain viable in the soil for seven to ten years.

MDT uses a number of methods to manage every problem weed and is excited about the interest each school is showing for the fight against knapweed.

"It is a great way to educate youth and employ another method of control, instead of depending solely on herbicides," Williams said.

Although this biological weed control method is not immediately effective, Williams does believe it will be incredibly sufficient in the long run.

"This is a Johnny Appleseed story," William said. "We are planting shade trees for our grandchildren."

While the No Child Left Behind Act has touched off a boom in school data collection, much work needs to be done before the vast amounts of student information can be harnessed to improve learning, according to Technology Counts 2006: The Information Edge: Using Data to Accelerate Achievement, a new report from Education Week and the Editorial Projects in Education (EPE) Research Center. The report is based on a systematic analysis by the EPE Research Center of the structure and quality of states' computerized data systems, and how those systems are being used. It comes at a time when states are under tremendous pressure to get technology systems and access to data up and running as genuinely useful tools to accelerate student learning on a broad scale. In a survey of state education officials conducted for the report, the EPE Research Center finds that despite the federal government's push to make data central to instructional decisions, states are still far away from putting their electronic information into a form that local educators can easily use.

For the first time ever, Technology Counts issues letter grades for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, ranking their efforts to improve access to and use of school technology and the ability of teachers to use it more effectively. While the nation earned an overall grade of C-plus, West Virginia, and Virginia earned the highest marks, with grades of A and A-minus, respectively. At the opposite end of the spectrum, a small group of states is lagging behind. Minnesota, Oregon, and Rhode Island all received an overall D grade, while Nevada ranked last in the nation with a D-minus. Grades are based on where states stand in three core areas of state policy and practice, including access to instructional technology, use of technology, and capacity to effectively use technology. They are contained both in the print version of the report and in new online-only State Technology Reports created by the EPE Research Center.

The Montana Indian Education Association has announced its 2006 award winners in Indian education efforts.

Sandra Murie, the superintendent of Rocky Boy schools, was named the Indian Educator of the Year; while Theodora Weatherwax of the Browning School District was named High School Teacher of the Year.

William and Diane Burd of Browning are the Parents of the Year. The Elder of the Year award went to Minerva Allen of the Lodge Pole Citizen Center; while Adam Baker of Poplar High School was High School Student of the Year.

DeeAnna Leader, director of Indian education for Great Falls Public Schools, was honored for her efforts to promote Indian education in Montana.

The Montana Indian Education Association represent all aspects of education with over 350 members made up from teachers/faculty, K-16 students, parents, administrators, tribal education, legislators, policy makers, and other interested individuals who want to make a difference in the education of Indian children and adults.

"Every Indian student must be provided with equitable opportunities for a quality education to empower them in their personal journeys, to provide them with an opportunity for choice, and to have an educational system that respects who they are as Indian people," said Carol Juneau, Chair MIE.

Imagine a life soaring through the air, sightseeing majestic landscapes and having the knowledge to surviving harsh wilderness conditions. Imagine the life of an aviator.

The Montana Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division, the Federal Aviation Administration and Helena College of Technology are sponsoring a four-day aviation career program for sophomore, junior and senior Montana high school students interested in aviation.

The program will start in Helena and includes a tour the Missoula's Smoke Jumper base and a wilderness survival field trip to Stemple Pass, near Lincoln, Mont.  The academy begins Tuesday, August 8 at 9:00 am and will conclude after a flight day ceremony Friday afternoon, August 12. MDT will provide accommodating travel for each field trip.

The Governor and First Lady Math and Science Initiative encourages students in Montana to discover the wonders of Montana.

Students from across the state will vie for the opportunity to be one of 15 students selected for the program on a first-come basis.  The program costs $100 and $50 scholarships are available for students who submit a one-page essay on their aviation interests along with the application.

For further information and to order free previews, visit our Montana Workbooks webpage, http://www.qworkbooks.com/mont.html