International expansion - 2002 Missoulian article reporting on adding first grade after being in business for EIGHT years

Below is a Missoulian article from 2002 written by Missoulian reporter Jane Rider titled, "International expansion",  reporting on the expansion of Missoula International School.  The article reported on MIS expanding to first grade.

Click on link below -

International expansion

Sub-title below -

"Missoula school to add class of first-graders at parents' request"

Quotes from the article follow -

"For the first time since Missoula International School was founded eight years ago, the kindergartners won't be the upperclassmen.
A new population of pupils will discover the global-thinking learning center this fall: first-graders."

and -

"Langley began a school in her Missoula living room with just a dozen or so pupils learning Spanish and French. By its second year, she no longer could accommodate the steady growth in enrollment and leased space at the Missoula County Fairgrounds."

and -

"In August we'll be remodeling the 'Central America room' to create first-grade classroom space," Pierpoint said.

But school officials anticipate expansion won't stop at first grade.
In the coming years, they hope to develop a primary school that accepts kids up to fifth grade. It would require larger facilities (emphasis by psm); the school is already almost at capacity at its South Avenue location, which they acquired just two years ago."


Prescott School Missoula comments in blue -

Before leasing Prescott School it took 8(!) years for Missoula International School to add first grade.  In other words for eight years MIS was a school for only pre-school and kindergartner children. 

Below is a quote from a letter obtained by Prescott School Missoula written in 2004 by MIS officials to MCPS asking to lease Prescott School -

“At the present time MIS serves approximately seventy students at two locations.MIS owns a building at 518 South Avenue West where the preschool and kindergarten classes are currently held.In addition, MIS leases space from the University Congregational Church on University Avenue where the first, second and third grades are taught. As you can imagine it has been difficult on staff as well as parents to have two locations. For some time MIS has been searching for space sufficient to house the entire school. Though there are many buildings available in Missoula, few of them offer classrooms and play space. MIS understands that some educational space may be available in the Missoula County School District.Specifically, MIS is interested in leasing Prescott Elementary School for a minimum of two years.”


Since the article above was written (2002) MIS had expanded to third andfourth grades.

In the 8 years of leasing Prescott School MIS has been able to expand to all 8 grades (pre-school and kindergarten were added before leasing Prescott School. 

Actually, all eight grades have been offered by MIS for the last three years or so. 

This reveals that leasing Prescott School has enabled MIS to expand more rapidly than in its first eight years.

This information is important as this information makes it clear that Missoula County Public Schools is aiding in the rapid expansion of a private school, the opposite of a public school district's responsibilities.

Lastly, in 2002 MIS was thinking of expanding into 5th grade.

Little did the public know that the process of the private school, MIS, leasing Prescott School began in 2002.