Bitterroot Valley Coop

Operating as an open educational service agency based in Stevensville, Montana, the Bitterroot Valley Coop serves a vital collaborative role within its distant rural community. Located in the 59870 area, the cooperative does not function as a traditional public school district with standard primary or secondary grade-level enrollments or standalone school facilities. Instead, it operates as a centralized administrative and service hub designed to provide overarching educational programs, resources, and specialized assistance across its partner region rather than managing conventional, grade-specific campuses.

To carry out its specialized mission, the cooperative maintains a unique staffing composition tailored heavily toward system-wide support and specialized services. Out of a total workforce of roughly 65.4 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, the agency employs approximately 62.6 FTE support staff members, complemented by 2.0 FTE teachers and 0.8 FTE instructional aides. This distinct personnel structure highlights the cooperative’s focus on offering specialized guidance and regional resources, giving parents, local families, and educational researchers a clear example of how rural communities efficiently pool educational services and infrastructure.