This document was sent to Missoula County Public Schools.
LARGER MODULAR FROM JEFFERSON SCHOOL COULD BE USED AT PRESCOTT SCHOOL
To: Missoula County Public Schools officials,
Superintendent Micah Hill, Maintenance Director Burley McWilliams, Missoula
County Public Schools Board of Trustees and Missoula citizens
This email is regarding using modulars in Rattlesnake,
specifically Prescott School. Modulars have been used in the Rattlesnake for years
(see history below).
The reason why a modular is being brought up currently as
it relates to Prescott School is that the district has included Prescott School
on a list of vacant properties and is making decisions on each one.
Recently, we have heard the Missoula County Public
Schools district say that the size, or “footprint”, of Prescott School is too
small and this would be one reason why the district would not want to keep Prescott.
This reasoning does not make sense since Prescott School
has been a public school for 135 years (outside of the inappropriate lease to Missoula
International School for about 20 years beginning in 2004). Prescott School has
been used for a variety of different grade levels during these years with
different levels of enrollment. A look at the history of Prescott School published
in a booklet by MCPS tells us this.
Moreover, an economist has told the district that MCPS
needs to build flexibility into its schools. Keeping Prescott School, even if
it is a smaller school than many district schools, would enhance flexibility in
the Rattlesnake Valley as so many of our children are at this time, and in the
past, being bused out of the Rattlesnake.
A modular can be
used when enrollment at a school has increased, and more classroom space is
needed instead of busing our students as mentioned. As a counter to the
district selling or using Prescott School for something else other than a
school, due to its size, there is an alternative - that of a newer modular being
brought to the Prescott School site. There are two newer modulars at Jefferson
School.
There is currently an older smaller modular on the north
side of Prescott School. This modular, I am told by a teacher, was brought over
from Hawthorne School many years ago. Unfortunately, with the lease of Prescott
School to Missoula International School this modular, although it could be used
for space, would need some clean up and repairs due to neglect by MIS.
A modular would be beneficial not only for Prescott but
for the district if it continues the narrative that Prescott is too small. It
would also be better than building an addition to the Prescott School building
or any other building or a sale.
Recently, we went to the north side of Prescott School
and did some measurements.
We measured the area around the older modular to see if a
bigger modular could fit, if the older modular was moved or if another modular
could fit in front of it. Yes, it could.
Measurements
of the modular at Prescott School
Measurements of the modular itself 24’x40’ (24’ wide and 40’
long)
12’
from the stairs of the modular to the building (this leaves room between a
modular and the building-which may be enough or more than enough to bring in a
larger modular.
24’
from the modular to the telephone poll.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Measurements
of the modular at Jefferson School
Measurements of the modular itself 44’x53’ (44’wide and
53’long)
9’
stair measurement that is attached to the front of the modular at Jefferson-
which is situated on the length side of the modular
____________________________________________________________________________________
Notes
The
difference in width is 20’
(44’for the Jefferson modular and 24’ for the Prescott modular)
The
difference in length is 13’ (53’ for the newer modular at Jefferson and
40’ for the Prescott modular)
***At
Prescott School there is room for additional length for the newer
Jefferson modular with the 13’
difference.
***There is also room for the newer Jefferson modular when considering the width. There would be 6’ of space between the modular and a pole that is near Briar Street. One could add 2’ or more feet of space in this area if you allowed 10’ between the school building and the modular instead of the 12’ of space which it is currently. You could add some footage also because the stairs are in different positions.
MODULARS
AT JEFFERSON SCHOOL 2026
Modular at Prescott School – 2026
Prescott School modular looking north – 2026
Prescott School Modular looking east – 2026
Prescott School
Modular looking south - 2026
Some modular history –
In 2004, after the closure of Rattlesnake Middle School,
Prescott School, and Mt. Jumbo School, the modular which was at Rattlesnake
Middle School was moved to Washington Middle School which entailed multiple
hook-ups to the school.
After the 2004 closures, Rattlesnake
Middle School was converted to an elementary school. Later, when the population of the newly
created Rattlesnake Elementary School grew, MCPS district approved the building of another modular(!),
a two-room modular at Rattlesnake Elementary and also another one at Lowell
School. (This approval was immediately
after the MCPS district approved an extension of the lease of Prescott School
to Missoula International School, which shows inappropriate loyalty to
MIS and malfeasance in the handling of district properties, especially to
Prescott School.)
Further
information about the Rattlesnake modular -
The
information below is from a May 2012 MCPS meeting discussing and awarding the
building of two modulars, one for Lowell and one for Rattlesnake Elementary
School. It you divide $417,147 in half the bid for one modular is $208, 573.
Adding the prep work and landscaping most likely would have cost about $250,000
or more.
The May
2012 minutes are below. This information was on another blog created in about
2011. (www.missoulaschoolwatchdog.blogspot.com) There are 10 posts just on the
modulars on this blog!
6. Topic: Award Modular Classroom Bid
– Lowell
& Rattlesnake Schools
(Elem) (Action)
Background Information:
At April 10th, Board meeting, Trustees granted
permission to solicit bids for the construction of modulars located at
Lowell and
Rattlesnake schools. The District received four responses to the bid.
The bids were opened on May 8
th, and the results are as follows:
Vendor Bid Amount
Sirius Construction $417,147
MKC $432,836
Western Interstate $449,000
Lower Construction $467,062
Administrative Recommendation:
Administration recommends that Trustees
award the Rattlesnake and Lowell modular bid to Sirius Construction. at
the June
12, 2012 regular Board meeting on the Consent Agenda.
In 2015, a bond of $151 million was passed by the voters. The elementary bond funded four additional classrooms and an entryway renovation for Rattlesnake Elementary School. Not only were there renovations but the modular that was built in 2012 were moved! So…not only did the district move the modular from what was then the Rattlesnake Middle School turned into the elementary school in 2004, but they also moved the newer modular that was built in 2012 due to the bond recommendations.
The district has spent thousands of dollars and perhaps
up to a million on modulars and the moving of the modulars bringing home the
point that just keeping Prescott School open would have saved the district money.
The modular at Rattlesnake Elementary School and the Lowell
modular were moved to the back of Jefferson School. (I believe this to be the
case.)
In conclusion, rather than close Prescott School
permanently, the district could use the modular at Jefferson. It appears that
that modular is meant to be in the Rattlesnake Valley, this time at Prescott
School if it is needed.
Thank you for reading this information. We must reopen
Prescott School for the good of the children, families, neighborhood, teachers,
and even the district as a whole. A smaller school is superior to larger
schools according to many research studies.
Thank you again!
Jeanne Joscelyn
www.prescottschoolmissoula.blogspot.com
Facebook – Save Prescott School
New! YouTube – Prescott School in Missoula
(The social media entities aren’t perfect but have
information about Prescott School.)
.HEIC)