Why Prescott School Must Be Protected: A Call for a Moratorium

 

Why Prescott School Must Be Protected: A Call for a Moratorium

For 135 years, Prescott School has been the heart of the Rattlesnake Valley. Generations of children walked its halls, families gathered on its playground, and neighbors built lifelong connections through the shared experience of a neighborhood school. Prescott is not just a building — it is part of our identity.

Today, that legacy is at risk.

The recent MCPS Property Study recommends exploring a sale or long‑term lease of Prescott School. But this recommendation is based on incomplete information, preventable neglect, and a lack of meaningful community engagement. Before any irreversible decisions are made, we must insist on an immediate moratorium.

Here’s why.

1. Prescott School Is Still Needed — Right Now

Since 2004, Rattlesnake middle‑schoolers have been bused four miles to Washington Middle School. Younger children have been sent to Lowell, Paxson, and even Mount Jumbo when enrollment spikes. Families have dealt with long bus rides, crowded classrooms, and constant reshuffling.

Prescott could house these students again. It was built for them. It still can serve them.

Selling Prescott would permanently eliminate one of the few remaining options for keeping Rattlesnake children in their own neighborhood.

2. The School’s Condition Was Preventable

The Property Study points to Prescott’s disrepair as a reason to sell it. But the truth is simple:

Prescott deteriorated because it was not maintained.

For nearly 20 years, the private school leasing the building failed to meet basic maintenance obligations. After the lease ended, MCPS did not restore upkeep to public‑school standards. Break‑ins, vandalism, broken windows, dead landscaping — all of this was preventable.

We cannot allow neglect to become an excuse for disposal.

3. Prescott Is a Historic Treasure

Prescott opened in 1891. Its 1910 building was designed by A.J. Gibson, one of Montana’s most celebrated architects. Its 1951 building was designed by H.E. Kirkemo. Together, they form a campus that reflects Missoula’s architectural and educational history.

The Rattlesnake has already lost one beloved school — Lincoln. Losing Prescott would be a second heartbreak, and a blow to the valley’s identity that cannot be undone.

4. Neighborhood Schools Matter

Neighborhood schools strengthen communities. They make it easier for parents to volunteer, attend events, and stay connected. They help children feel safe and supported. They build friendships that last for generations.

Research shows that small schools — like Prescott — help students thrive academically and socially. Prescott itself once had the highest reading scores in the district.

Why would we give up a school that works?

5. The Property Study Did Not Reflect Community Voices

The study:

• Looked only at vacated schools

• Was completed in a short timeframe

• Relied heavily on social media and QR codes

• Did not ask residents whether they wanted Prescott reopened

• Did not consider the educational benefits of neighborhood or small schools

A decision this important deserves a full, inclusive, community‑centered process.

6. Prescott Can Be Restored

Despite years of neglect, Prescott is still structurally sound. It has good bones, good materials, and a good design. Much of what it needs is cleaning, carpentry, and incremental repairs. Larger projects can be spread over time or funded through grants.

Prescott does not need to be replaced. It needs to be cared for.

7. A Moratorium Gives Us Time to Do This Right

A moratorium would:

• Pause all sale or lease actions

• Allow for full public discussion

• Give the district time to evaluate educational needs

• Protect future enrollment flexibility

• Prevent irreversible loss of a historic neighborhood school

This is not just about preserving a building. It’s about protecting a community resource that has served Missoula for more than a century.

Prescott School Has Life Left in It — And So Do We

Neighbors have stepped up with ideas, energy, and hope. Volunteers are ready to help. Families want their children closer to home. The community wants to preserve its history and strengthen its future.

Prescott School can be brought back to life. But only if we act now.

Please join in calling for an immediate moratorium on the sale or long‑term lease of Prescott School. Our children — and our community — deserve nothing less.

MCPS will vote on vacant properties plan this summer

 MCPS will vote on vacant properties plan this summer

Missoulian article reporting on property study - sad recommendations for Prescott School. This recommendation must be refuted. 

Lack of Maintenance at Prescott School in Missoula #4 - Mold, Shattered sprinkler pipes, Lack of Security and Lighting, Conclusion

 

MOLD IN MANY AREAS AROUND PRESCOTT SCHOOL

  

  

SPRINKER INSTALLATION DUE TO SHATTERED PIPES AND OTHER PROBLEMS

         

  

               

LACK OF SECURITY AND ADEQUATE LIGHTING

  

There is information of the lack of lighting at Prescott School on the YouTube channel – Prescott School in Missoula. The lack of lighting contrasts with other schools which has adequate lighting.

CONCLUSION -

Prescott School deserves justice to the wrongs it has incurred both by the Missoula County Public Schools administration and the private school approximately 20- year lessee, Missoula International School. Prescott School needs to be brought back to the 2004 maintenance levels and reopened for public school students. Prescott School has been a popular school for a century and a quarter, since 1891 and is celebrating its 135^th anniversary this year (2026). This celebration need not be diminished by a sale or long-term lease.

There has been some maintenance by MCPS in recent years. Sprinkler installation, picking up lawn bags by the groundskeeper, and arranging volunteers for painting work, however, this had been minimal in light of the work that needs to be done both inside and outside.

In the lease of 2004 and other lease extensions for Missoula International School of Prescott School it states under # 15: “District will be responsible for major structural repairs such as roof repair or replacement and boiler repair and replacement. Lessee will be responsible for any other maintenance and repairs resulting from use of the Premises.”

Throughout the years since 2004 there have been blatant violations of the lease regarding the maintenance clause in the lease. These violations have been reported to the district without repercussions for Missoula International School.

Due to these infractions that have left Prescott School in disrepair and other concerns there should be no action in the direction of a sale or a lease, either short or long term.

 

 

 

Lack of Maintenance at Prescott School in Missoula - #3 - More landscaping problems

 MORE LANDSCAPING PROBLEMS –

  

       

   

  

              

 

 

           

    

  

The lawn bags of debris were from volunteers that raked the grounds and then took the bags to Eko-Comost. Some lawn bags were picked up by Brandon, the groundskeeper - Thanks Brandon!

Lack of Maintenance at Prescott School in MIssoula #2 - Broken Windows!

 BROKEN WINDOWS

One of the most disheartening issues of the Prescott School maintenance is the sight of so many broken and boarded-up windows at the back of the building. Additionally, there is a broken window in front, one on the modular, and one on the back door. About 20 windows in total! This should not happen to any school in Missoula! There was a lack of security and lighting which allowed vandalism to run rampant. The following are many pictures showing this tragedy. The lack of security was addressed at a Walk-Through in September of 2025 by a neighbor. She stated that there was a sensor that was removed and the vandalism stopped when it was replaced.

  

   

    

    

  

Lack of Maintenance at Prescott School in Missoula - #1

June 3, 2026

To: Missoula County Public Schools administrators and Trustees,

From: Jeanne Joscelyn, Prescott School Missoula Advocate

Re: Lack of maintenance at Prescott School, both inside and outside

For the past three or four years, since 2003, and sporadically throughout the years since 2004, I have written to MCPS regarding the lack of upkeep at Prescott School. Others have also contacted the district and complained both by email and by telephone. Some of the complaints have been addressed by the district and some, unfortunately, have not.

In this email are pictures of the lack of upkeep for Prescott School from various years.

 One will notice that there are large areas with no lawn in front of the building. There are rocks strewn where there has been some utility work both in front and on the side where there was sprinkler work. Two bushes have died in front due to lack of water and a fruit tree has also died in front due to lack of water.

   

No lawn in front, rocks and weeds around a memorial and disintegrating ground cover

No lawn in front of building by the memorial

Patch of weeds in the back of building and boarded up windows

MORE MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS

PEELING PAINT –

There are many areas all over the building where there is need for painting. The paint on the building is peeling. There most likely has been no painting since at least 2004 when Missoula International School leased the building. The lease states that painting was the responsibility of MIS. Only boiler and roof issues were to be covered by MCPS.

    

      

  

       

  

   

MORE VANDALISM – There have been many calls to the police concerning vandalism at Prescott School.