GREAT FALLS — Last week the Great Falls Public Schools made another big stride toward integrating baseball in the 2026 school year.
“Monday night, the Great Falls Public School board approved baseball and the fundraising for baseball for the 2026 school year," said Lance Boyd, executive eirector for the East Side Schools with Great Falls Public Schools.
Boyd is excited that GFPS and the baseball committee have reached this next step.
“I think to be able to add an emerging sport like baseball is exciting," he said. "It comes with trepidation as you look at school funding, where it's at, into the future. But it gives our kids another opportunity to participate in a sport that many of them love.”
Now it is up to the baseball committee to fundraise for start-up costs and the first three years of program costs, which is expensive.
"(It's) $101,000 for startup costs. And then $95,000 a year for three years for annual program costs for baseball," Boyd said.
It’s an ambitious project, as it will be covering everything from transportation to coaching fees to equipment.
“This is really going to take the whole community backing us to get to our goals, our financial goals for the whole three years," said Kali Jean Tuckerman, a member of the baseball committee.
Tuckerman has been working since August to organize fundraising efforts.
“Everybody loves baseball," Tuckerman said. "And this community, in particular, really likes baseball, so really excited to get out there. We already have a bunch of people who have talked to us, talked to the district about wanting to support.”
Fundraising will be done through the Great Falls Public Schools Foundation website. If the fundraising goals are met, GFPS hopes to start baseball in March of 2026.
“I'm excited, yeah. Very excited," Boyd said. "I think it's good to be able to work with this set of community members that are excited about baseball, but also at the same time, got to know and understand what it's like in a public school and in our district here in Great Falls to be able to raise funds for something that's never been raised for before.”
The fundraising calendar:
- July 31, 2025 — Startup costs for both CMR and Great Falls High - $101,000
- December 31, 2025 — First year program costs - $95,050
- March 30, 2026 — Half of second year program costs - $47,525
- July 1, 2026 — Half of second year program costs - $47,525
- December 31, 2026 — Half of third year program costs - $47,525
- July 1, 2027 — Half of third year program costs - $47,525
When fundraising begins, donations can be made here.
