2026 Trustee Election Questionnaires: Derick Budd

Derick Budd

Age: 39

Length of residency in Anaconda: Aside from college and a year living with my brother out of state, my whole life

Born and raised where: right here in Anaconda 

Occupation: Department of Corrections 

Family: married with 4 kids

Education: Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Montana 

Military service, if any: none

Previous political offices held and/or memberships in community/professional organizations: currently on school board

Question 1: Why are you running for school board, and what skills will you bring to the board?

I was born and raised in Anaconda and had a very positive experience going through our school system. I’ve had three of my adult children go through the school system with varying levels of positivity. I now have a young child who is going to be school aged. Because of the varying experiences of my older children and a regret that I wasn’t as involved then, I chose to become more involved for my youngest child. 

I was appointed last year to the board due to a vacancy. In that time I have been a part of hiring a new superintendent Dr. Rehbein, I have been a part of union negotiations with the various unions, and I am part of a budget committee that helps to make sure we are making tax dollars go as far for our kids as possible. I have a background in mental health and working with people with disabilities, and often look through that lens  when voting on the board. 

Question 2: How will you work to improve communication in the school district among the board, the administration, staff, students and the public?

In my experience in the last year, all of us on the board communicate comfortably and freely with each other, which I feel makes our discussions more productive. We have always had good communication with the administrators, however I do believe that has improved with the leadership of Dr. Rehbein. I do believe that we as a board can improve our communication with the students and public and I think we can follow the example currently being set by Dr. Rehbein with her strategies of community engagement. I myself plan to be more involved in community events both school district related and not. 

Question 3: The percentage of students with special needs continues to rise in our district. What can the board do to guarantee this population receives access to a quality education while still providing the same opportunities to its traditional and exceptional students?

This is an area that is near and dear to my heart. In the last year I have seen our strategies change in a positive way that emphasizes individual needs for our students, which work to highlight their potential to grow. I think in any school system this becomes a delicate balance to try to provide the most services while also ensuring the student has the most empowerment to set the course of their education.  I will continue to support any strategies that provide individualized opportunities for our students. 

Question 4: School safety continues to be a concern for students, parents and staff. How will you work with your fellow board members as well as administration, educational staff, parents, students and other stakeholders to address school safety concerns?

We as a board have already been discussing this issue. With some of the past events in our community, it has highlighted the very real need to improve our infrastructure and policies to ensure a safe and secure environment for our students. 

The infrastructure conversation is difficult because while it is most certainly a need, it comes with a pretty hefty price tag. I want to make sure that we are exploring all money options available be for we go to the tax payers to ask for help. The next question talks about the high cost of living and any request for more money will certainly impact that. I will always be very cognizant of the effects our decisions will have on the people and tax payers of our community and will always keep the costs in mind. 

Outside of infrastructure, we have continued to partner with our police department to train on issues like active shooters. Dr. Rehbein has ensured that this training has occurred in a way that trains the staff without putting an emotional burden on our students and I’m proud that our community can tackle these issues in such a responsible manner. 

Question 5: In an era of uncertainty in public education and with an increasingly high cost of living in our area, how will you work with other board members, administrators and community stakeholders to recruit and retain high-quality educational staff for our schools?

I love that in this question I already know that our school system is actively recruiting teachers to come to our area. The STARS Act recently passed by the legislature helps in this area. Being part of union negotiations has given me a chance as a board member to know what issues are most important to the staff and work with them to try to address them. The only way we will be successful as a school system is through collaboration with the students, staff, families and all community stakeholders.  The beautiful thing about Anaconda is that we take care of each other and by working with each other we will make sure that our students get the best possible education.