Huntley Project High School

Huntley Project High School is a high school in Worden, Montana. Home of the Red Devils, the Huntley Project School District serves students living in four small Montana communities: Worden, Ballantine, Huntley, and Pompey's Pillar, with total population nearing 3,000 people. It is located 20 miles (32 km) east of Montana's largest city, Billings, in the southeastern part of Montana.

On September 18, 2008, an early morning fire destroyed the high school building in Worden.^[1]

About the school

Total 2006-2007 enrollment is 739 students, grades kindergarten through 12th grade. The high school currently has 226 students, making Huntley Project a Class B school in the Montana High School Association.

The name ‘Huntley Project’ is short for Huntley Irrigation Project, which was the second U.S. Bureau of Reclamation irrigation project. The area was part of the Crow Indian Reservation from 1874 to 1904 when the government purchased the 35,000 acres (140 km²), stretching across 27 miles (43 km) from Huntley, east to the Little Bull Mountains.

Huntley Projects stated goals are for their students learn and develop citizenship.

The 36,208-square-foot (3,363.8 m²) high school building was built in 1968 at a cost of $460,945. It was one of many schools designed by the firm Johnson-Graham & Associates.^[2]

Athletics

Huntley Project Red Devils participate in Montana's Class B in the following athletic programs.

• Football (state championships: 1998, 2008, 2009)
• Volleyball (state champions: 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)
• Cross Country
• Boys' Basketball (state champions: 1999, 2007)
• Girls' Basketball
• Wrestling (state championships: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2000)
• Boys' and Girls' Track (boys' state championships: 1989, 2006, 2007) (girls' state championships: 2004, 2006, 2007)
• Softball
• Golf

Activities

Huntley Project students participate in the following extra-curricular clubs and activities.

• Student Council
• Cheerleading
• BPA
• FFA
• Pep Club
• National Honor Society
• Band, including pep band and concert band
• Choir
• Speech and Drama (State Championships: 2004)
• FCCLA
• Newspaper, the "Red and Black Attack," and Annual * HP News

Fire

On Sept. 18, 2008, an early morning fire destroyed the high school building in Worden. The fire destroyed nine classrooms, the home economics room, the library and computer lab, three offices, the high school gym and the band room. The concession stand, school trophies and other memorabilia were also destroyed.^[3]

Early reports said the fire was "suspicious" in nature.^[1] Yellowstone County deputies arrested four teens, all current or former Huntley Project students, in connection with the fire.^[4] Court records say that the four teens broke into the school, damaged several doors and vandalized the chemistry room and other rooms, broke into a vending machine for snacks and took footballs before leaving the building. Court records say the teens later returned to the school and set fires in the chemistry room and an office.^[5]

Gregory Dean Three Fingers, 18, was charged in Yellowstone County Justice Court with arson and burglary. He was arraigned on felony charges on Sept. 26, 2008.^[5] Michael John Victoria II, 16, was charged as an adult in District Court with arson and burglary as well. He pleaded not guilty.^[6] Two younger teens, a boy and girl both aged 14, were cited in youth court in connection with the fire.^[7]

After the fire, students returned to classes in modular buildings moved onto the school campus, which will be used, along with spare rooms in other buildings and around town, as classrooms until a new school can be built. The school and campus were insured for more than $6 million.^[8]

References