Blog Break 3: Capitol Watch: Governor Greg Gianforte’s Connections to Petra Academy

Blog: Shortly after Governor Gianforte was elected, The Montana Review posted online a series written by MacKenzie Dexter in 2021 and updated in December 2022. Just Facts MT is taking a spring break and sharing the Capitol Watch series with updated financials in future blogs.  

Here is a direct link to Part 3: Funding Petra Academy.

For the Petra Academy community in Bozeman, the Gianforte family has been an integral part of its 25 years of operation. With four children graduating from the school, millions of dollars in donations and scholarships and Greg Gianforte’s service on the school’s board, the family has played a significant part in the history of Montana’s longest-running private classical Christian school.

The sales of his New Jersey tech company, Brightwork Development, and his Montana company, RightNow Technologies, netted Gianforte approximately $135.7 million. One recipient of the Gianforte family’s wealth has been Petra Academy, a K-12 classical Christian school in Bozeman, one of few hundred classical Christian schools across the country, according to the Classical Christian website.

The Gianforte Family Foundation has donated millions to Petra Academy and also helped build the school’s newest building. The four Gianforte children—Richard, David, Adam and Rachel—all are Petra graduates.

Petra Academy was started in 1995 by Louise Turner and grew from a few dozen to around 180 students. Inspired by a conference in Idaho, Turner decided to open her own school that taught a classical Christian curriculum. In its history Petra has employed four headmasters: Louise Turner, Todd Hicks, Craig Dunham and Justice Kerr…   Continue reading Part 3: Funding Petra Academy.

Source: Capitol Watch: Governor Greg Gianforte’s Connections to Petra Academy