Some of the changes to Prescott School requested by Missoula International School in November of 2011 are:
-adding a kiln in the boiler room
- completely changing the structure of some classrooms. This is a historical school built around 1950. Because Prescott is historical and was designed by a noted architect from the Missoula area, H.E. Kirkemo, an associate of A.J. Gibson, the school needs to remain intact and as close to it's original state as possible.
- additional changes to the playground, including removing a piece of playground equipment, the monkey bars, which were enjoyed for many years by public school children.
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The Prescott School change proposal appeared on the November, 2011 Finance and Operations Committee Meeting agenda
which appears below:
PRESCOTT SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
Background Information: Missoula International School (MIS) has requested minor tenant improvement projects for Prescott school. These projects have been reviewed and approved by the Director of Operations & Maintenance as they are consistent with improvements that have been made at other MCPS facilities. MIS will use licensed contractors that have been approved by MCPS. MIS will be responsible to pay for the improvement projects, including the building permits, as referenced in the letter attached hereto.
Discussion: Reed explained that Missoula International Schools has
requested permission to do some minor improvement projects at Prescott School.
These projects are consistent with projects completed in other buildings. Reed
reviewed their request and approved it. MIS is using the same procedure that
Head Start and Walla Walla University have used in the past in requesting
improvements per the lease agreements. This is for information only. THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION.
DIRECTION: INFORMATION ONLY.
Note: The larger font size and the red font color in addition to the underline, bold, and the italics emphasis included in the agenda above is by Prescott School Missoula.
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Prescott School Missoula's opinion on the above issue:
This decision bypassed the Board as the sole decider was MCPS Maintenance and Operations Director, Scott Reed. There was no discussion at the November 16th Finance and Operations Committee Meeting according to the minutes, no voting, and the topic was not forwarded to be placed on the MCPS monthly Board Meeting agenda.
One could ask - Why was the subject even on the agenda?
Prescott School Missoula is deeply disappointed in the administration of Missoula County Public Schools specifically Scott Reed.
Scott Reed states above, "Missoula International School (MIS) has requested minor tenant improvement projects for Prescott school."
Prescott School believes that tearing out walls and moving them is NOT a minor change. This much damage and renovation to the current structure of a building, any MCPS building, would be considered by most people to be a MAJOR change.
There is too much leeway given to the lessee to change the structure of one of our public school buildings. The changes mentioned above are to accommodate MIS and in all likelihood will not be in the best interests of the public schools when Prescott returns for use as a public school.
The changes need not be named "improvements" for the district. They are just changes desired by MIS to fit their needs, not the needs of MCPS. This is a common tactic by this administration.
Scott Reed also states above, "These projects are consistent with projects completed in other buildings."
Presccott School Missoula believes that there is a difference between projects completed in other schools which are occupied with public school children and those which are leased. The projects completed in a leased building, as stated above, are for the benefit of the leasee which may or may not benefit the public school children and the school district facility.
It is Prescott School Missoula's opinion that the school district is not looking out for the children of the school district as it is directed to do.
We have a rogue school district where private schools get sweetheart lease deals and on top of that they get full rein to do whatever they please to our public school buildings.
The issue of a private school leasing a public school is corrupt in itself and to allow the private school to remodel both the school and the grounds to suit it's needs is doubly corrupt.
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