School Board Trustee · Missoula, Montana
Always for Children. Always for Excellence.
I’m Scott Rouse: a Hellgate Elementary parent, a longtime Missoula resident, and a member of the Hellgate Elementary School District #4 Board of Trustees. Hellgate voters elected me in May 2025, and I work every day to keep that trust by putting students first, backing our teachers, and spending your tax dollars carefully.
What guides my work
Six commitments I made to Hellgate families, and keep on the board
These are the priorities I ran on in 2025. They’re still the lens I bring to every agenda, every budget, and every vote.
Enhancing Student Success
Strong academics, modern learning tools, and a structured environment where every student is supported and challenged.
02Supporting Our Teachers and Staff
Competitive pay, real professional growth, and fewer administrative burdens so teachers can teach.
03Strengthening School-Community Partnerships
Transparent decisions and clear communication with families, staff, and neighbors.
04Fiscally Responsible Leadership
Clear financial reporting, classroom resources first, and spending tied to outcomes.
05School Safety and Student Well-Being
Effective safety protocols, clear discipline, and support for students’ well-being.
06Focused, Transparent Governance
Decisions guided by data, community input, and long-term outcomes, not short-term trends or politics.
Why “Always for Children”
My father, John Rouse, dedicated over 50 years of his life to education as a teacher, principal, and superintendent. His personal motto, Always for Children, is something I strive to live up to, and it guides my decisions as a school board member.
Your voice
Our schools belong to the community
The board works best when families, staff, and neighbors show up and speak up. Here’s how to be part of it.
-
Come to a board meeting
Regular meetings are usually the second Monday of each month, and every one is open to the public.
-
Share public comment
Speaking to the whole board during a meeting puts your view on the public record, where every trustee hears it.
-
Reach out to me
Questions, ideas, or concerns about our schools? I read every message and I’m glad to talk.
Meet Scott
A parent, a neighbor, and a steward of our schools
As a long-time Missoula resident and a Hellgate Elementary parent, I have a personal stake in the quality of education and the well-being of the students, teachers, and families that make up our district. Our younger son is in 5th grade at Hellgate; our older son went from kindergarten through 8th grade here and is now a freshman at Big Sky High School.
I bring more than a decade of leadership in the technology industry, two years of service as a Missoula Police officer, years of running small businesses, and a lifetime of volunteering with local youth. On the board, that means careful attention to budgets, practical thinking about school safety, and a habit of listening first.
Updates
From the record
Where I stand, in my own words
My answers to Ballotpedia’s 22-question candidate survey on funding, teaching, safety, transparency, and the job of a trustee.
May 10, 2025Thank You, Hellgate Voters!
“This victory belongs to every parent, student, teacher, and community member who believes in putting children first.”