Rattlesnake School showing signs of over-crowding - We need Prescott School!

                                 Rattlesnake School in 2026

There have been conversations lately about the increased enrollment of Rattlesnake School. There are now three kindergartens and the three fifth  grade rooms are very full - about 28 or so children per class! In past years this was not considered too many children per class, however, in more recent years state officials have developed class size recommendations which are lower than the 28-30 children per classroom. 

It apperars that Prescott School is needed now rather than in 2030 when an economist predicted that the elementary enrollment would increase. His study was presented in 2004 at a High School Futures Meeting. 

The school district has spent multi-millions of dollars due to the closure of Prescott School - 

Here's how - 

First loss of ANB funding - this is state money which goes to each school district based on enrollment. For each child that has gone to Misssoula International School since it was leased to Prescott School the district has lost approximately $6,000 per child. This was brought up several times by a math professor in letters and at meetings. 

Increased transportation - There are multiple buses runnning up and down the Rattelesnake carrying children to either Rattlesnake School or Washington Middle School. The children in these areas could attend the school in their area saving millions of dollars.

Building modulars and moving modulars- 

- moving a modular at Rattlesnake Middle School to Washington Middle School in 2004 - $$$ - hundreds to thousands

- building a modular in approximately 2012 rather than reopening Prescott School $$$ - approximately $300 thousand

- moving the modular to Jefferson School in 2015 - $$$ - hundreds to thousands

- building 4 classrooms and an entrance area to Rattlesnake Middle School - unknown cost - $$$ millions

 - other unknown expenditures that surely have been spent on the closure disruption $$$ - hundreds to thousands perhaps millions

A sale of Prescott School would cost the district multi-millions of additional dollars more as there will surely be pressure to build an addition or a new school for the middle school students that are now being bused to Washington Middle School

In a world where administrators and Trustees really care about the best interests of children and the best interests of the taxpayers the district would be enthusiastic about Prescott School.