2026 RATTLESNAKE VALLEY CITIZENS’ ALTERNATIVE PLAN FOR PRESCOTT SCHOOL

 

RATTLESNAKE VALLEY CITIZENS’ ALTERNATIVE PLAN FOR PRESCOTT SCHOOL

Phases and Steps for Reopening

INTRODUCTION

Note: In response to the Property Committee’s recommendation to sell Prescott School or pursue a long‑term lease, we — the residents of the Rattlesnake Valley — present an alternative plan. This plan is simpler, more cost‑effective, grounded in common sense, and designed to save Prescott School.

Prescott has served the Rattlesnake Valley for 135 years, with the current building constructed in 1951. Our proposal outlines phased, incremental steps to address maintenance issues and reopen the school. We support restoring Prescott to the basic maintenance levels of 2004, prior to its closure — not a full renovation costing $9 million, as suggested by the Property Committee. We also strongly support preserving the building’s historic character.

For nearly two decades, the private school leasing Prescott did not adequately maintain the building or grounds. After Missoula International School vacated the property, the Missoula County Public Schools district also failed to implement a proper maintenance schedule.

It is now the responsibility of the current MCPS Trustees and administrators to mitigate past neglect. The citizens of Missoula should not bear the financial burden of maintenance failures caused by both MIS and MCPS through the sale or long‑term lease of our neighborhood school.

See more information in the document “Prescott School Missoula Advocates,” which outlines 16 principles supporting Prescott School. This document has been submitted to MCPS and is available at: www.prescottschoolmissoula.blogspot.com.

 

See the following pages for the Phases and Steps for Reopening Prescott School.

 

ALTERNATIVE INCREMENTAL PLAN: PHASES (YEAR) & STEPS (TO-DO LIST) FOR REOPENING PRESCOTT SCHOOL

 

PHASE ONE — FIRST YEAR OR LONGER IF NEEDED (Approx. 2026–2027-mostly 2027)

Basic Outside Maintenance

Landscaping

• Use sprinklers during summer; maintain lines and fill trenches as needed.
• Water the playground, front lawn, and trees.
• Use weed‑eaters and blowers to clear asphalt and remove debris.
• Shovel sidewalks in winter.
• Utilize volunteers for landscaping tasks not completed by MCPS crews (a citizens’ poster has been prepared for this purpose).
• Stripe asphalt for basketball, hopscotch, four square, and tetherball.
• Maintain the playground as‑is — it is heavily used and appreciated. The swings and metal climber provide sufficient equipment. MIS removed the monkey bars; MCPS needs to replace them.
• Avoid adding more playground structures; preserve open space for children and community use.
• Add infill dirt to level uneven areas on playground or complete in a later phase.
• Complete proper maintenance of sprinkler system in spring and fall.
• Begin removing debris and weeds around swing set area.
• Maintain tetherball area and basketball nets if needed.

Roof

• Address roof issues incrementally (create a priority list) through district staff or contractors. Prescott does not require an immediate full roof replacement, unlike Jefferson School’s wind‑damage situation.  

Windows

• After installing security measures, replace the 13–20 vandalized windows, either gradually or all at once. (Vandalism began when a security system was removed.) This could be done in a later phase,
•  also.

Safety

• Install adequate lighting around the building’s perimeter.
• Install security cameras and motion detectors.
• Ensure sidewalks are safe.
• Continue regular swing‑set safety checks (as MCPS has done).
• Confirm all fire extinguishers are functional and up‑to‑date.
• Ensure all door locks work properly.
• Follow other routine MCPS safety protocols.

Painting

·       Begin painting the outside trim where the paint is peeling and other needed painting

Basic Inside Maintenance

·        Winterize building

·        Inspect and clean the first‑floor entrance.

·        Inspect bathrooms; sweeping, mopping, and scrubbing can be done by volunteers or district janitors. Plumbing work, if needed, can be done by district plumbers or volunteer plumbers.

·        Inspect the gym floor and surrounding areas; refinish the floor as was done at Mount Jumbo. This can be done by MCPS, a volunteer company, or a contractor. (MIS did not maintain the gym floor.)

·        Identify which first‑floor room(s) should be used first; residents suggest the front southern room (#1) for tutoring until full reopening.

·        Clean classrooms one at a time: sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, polishing wood, washing windows, etc.

·        Organize and repair shelves; district carpenters can be used (volunteers can assist).

·        After one or more room(s) are complete, move to the office and the teacher room areas.

·        Clean and repair plaster damage near the south entrance incrementally.

Note: The boiler does not need to be addressed in the first year. The school can remain closed during winter months if necessary. Boiler work can occur in Phase Two or Three

 

PHASE TWO — SECOND YEAR OR LONGER IF NEEDED (Approx. 2028–2029)

Basic Outside Maintenance

• Continue watering, mowing, weed‑eating, and asphalt cleaning.
• Water front trees and lawn; plant grass seed where needed.
• Replace two to three dead potentilla bushes in front(neglected by MIS) and ensure adequate watering.
• Replace the fruit tree in front that died due to MIS neglect.
• Water cottonwoods on the west side(trim if needed for safety) Obtain advice from Urban Forester on care of the cottonwoods.
• Clean around the utility box near the gym; confirm utility safety with Northwestern Energy.
• Use weed control as needed; some residents prefer non‑chemical treatments. Prevent knapweed and other weed infestations (which occurred under MIS).
• Striping of the hopscotch, four-square, tether ball, and basketball lines on asphalt (if not done in Phase One).
• Add infill dirt to even out the playground if not already completed in Phase One
• Remove debris and weeds around the swing set area; consider removing boulders added during MIS lease.
• Replace monkey bars removed by MIS
• Monitor the playground games(hopscotch, four square, basketball, and tetherball) for needed striping and maintaining.

Roof

• Begin or continue basic roof repairs

Windows

·       Replace broken windows or continue replacing them if this has already begun

Painting

·       Begin or continue painting areas of peeling paint and other needed painting

Safety

·       Double check if there are an adequate number of security cameras around the perimeter of the building, equal to other MCPS schools.

·       Double check if there is adequate lighting around the perimeter of the building, equal to other MCPS schools.

Basic Inside Maintenance

·       Continue room‑by‑room cleaning on the first floor.

·       Begin interior painting where needed; this can be done incrementally. Volunteers or donated professional labor may be possible with district approval.

·       Begin incremental boiler repairs if needed; no need for full replacement at this time.

·        Begin grant paperwork for a future boiler replacement if needed(as done at Lewis & Clark).

·       Reopen the gym for Friday night play during warmer months if the boiler is not in use.

·       Open the gym for public use (basketball, tai chi, etc.), similar to Jefferson School. A small fee could support basic cleaning and upkeep.

PHASE THREE — THIRD YEAR OR LONGER IF NEEDED (Approx. 2029–2030)

Basic Inside Maintenance

• Continue all maintenance from prior phases.
• Repair or replace flooring gradually where needed.

Basic Outside Maintenance

• Continue outdoor maintenance equal to other MCPS schools.
• Replace grates and culverts where needed during this phase or a later one.

Roof

Continue basic roof repairs until a grant is secured if needed for larger repairs.

PHASE FOUR AND BEYOND — (Approx. 2031 – AS MANY YEARS AS NECESSARY

Inside Maintenance

• Continue all basic interior maintenance established in earlier phases.
• Repair boiler if needed. Replace boiler when grant is approved..

Outside Maintenance

• Continue all basic exterior maintenance established in earlier phases.
•  Focus on any roof issues incrementally.

ADDITIONAL NOTE ON SCOPE AND TIMELINE

·        The phases and steps in this plan represent a practical and well‑supported example of how Prescott School can be gradually reopened. We recognize that additional maintenance concerns may arise that are not specifically addressed here; however, this proposal provides a strong foundation for beginning the conversation about saving Prescott School.

·        The community and the MCPS school district can work together to identify needs, adjust priorities, and refine the plan as necessary. The timeline presented here is intended as a guide. If the reopening process requires more time, an extended timeline is far preferable to selling the building or entering into a long‑term lease.

CONCLUSION

The phased reopening plan outlined above provides a clear, practical, and community‑centered path forward. A sale or long‑term lease of Prescott School would undermine what is best for the children and residents of the Rattlesnake Valley. Such actions would lead to millions of dollars in future costs to compensate for the loss of this essential neighborhood school.

This plan may not be perfect or complete but it is a starting point and addresses most of the important maintenance issues.

Voting for a sale or long‑term lease would represent one of the most consequential mistakes of any Trustee’s or administrator’s public service career.

Thank you, Rattlesnake Valley Residents for Prescott School

First edited in Summer 2026 by Citizens for Rattlesnake Children and Residents

Sent to MCPS public comment on September 29, 2026 with no message(oops!) 

 

The Lower Rattlesnake Neighborhood Council still has a picture of Prescott School with the Missoula International School sign on it's website

 

This is a picture copied froom the LRNC website with MIS sign

It is curious why the Lower Rattlesnake Neighborhood Council still has a picture of Prescott School with a Missoula International School sign on it's website. 

I have realized that the LRNC does not appear to be a very good friend of  Prescott School, at least in keeping it as a public school. In my opinion, of course. To be fair, I really don't know the totality of what actions have taken place by the LRNC.

People on the LRNC did not appear at meetings that were pertinent to saving Prescott School for the public school children since it was closed in 2004 until Missoula International School moved out at the end of 2022(according to a newspaper). If I am wrong on this please post a comment below. 

It is apparent that the LRNC is not interested in saving Prescott School for a school, again, in my opinion.  

I attended so many meetings when Prescott School was on the agenda and even when it was not. There were Board Meetings, Property Meetings. Finance and Operation Meetings, P&P Meetings(Policy and Personell), and I'm sure more types of MCPS Meetings. I also spoke on behalf of Prescott School at some LRNC and URNC Meetings. 

I can't really remember seeing a LRNC at these MCPS Meetings - but like I said, if this is incorrect, please comment below. Many times I was by myself, and sometimes with another citizen that cared about how MCPS managaged it's properties.

If a member of the LRNC did come to a MCPS meeting, was it in favor of Missoula International School leasing Prescott School? Or was it because this person was in favor of keeping the playground only and not the school itself? Or did I miss something and a member did support Prescott School as a school?

Every resident of the Rattlesnake Vally, in the low, mid, or upper, has a stake in Prescott School, not just the lower Rattlesnake residents. The lower Rattlesnake residents have a closer proximity to Prescott, which would make them more aware of the school, however, again, Prescott School is of extreme importance to all residents and children of the Rattlesnake Valley. Prescott School was the first school (outside of a very old wood school as I recall) in the Rattlesnake Valley (with a beginning in 1891) and deserves to be cherished not only for the school itself but for the historical aspect as well.

At one time, a couple of years ago, a member of the LRNC came to speak with my spouse and I while we were raking and cleaning up the grounds at Prescott School. He discouraged us from doing this work. And that it was probably not going to be a school again as the boiler needed a million dollars of work in addition to other obstacles to reopening the school. This signified to me, by the narrative of this man who has been a leader of the LRNC for many years, that this group is not a friend of Prescott School, again, as in reopening it. I would think that others would agree with my opinion after reading about this encounter. And maybe others have had different experiences. 

I have offended anyone I apologize. If what I've said rings a bell for any LRNC or URNC member please speak up for Prescott School as a school, so it can continue educating our children. They are counting on you. Prescott School is a historic landmark and needs to be protected as a school.

Edited 9-2026 - To be fair, since I have been up close and personal to the Prescott School issue since 2003(and even before that) and have seen mismanagement and some corruption I have realized that the school district is not always honorable in it's dealings. Perhaps the people on the LRNC aren't as sceptacle of MCPS as I am and are more trusting. This may be the case and is perfectly understandable. 

Perhaps we could work together! Many people would like to see a group that promotes the reopening of Prescott School. It would be great if all Rattlesnake residents could rally around Prescott School. 

Thank you!

Prescott School Missoula Advocate

September 20, 2026

edited on September 22, 2026

edited on September 29, 2026

Email to the Lower Rattlesnake Neighborhood Council concerning Prescott School

Below is an email I attempted to send to the Lower Rattlesnake Neighborhood Council, however, I'm not sure if it went through. Whenever I send an email to this email address, which is on the city website, it does not go through for some reason. I will work on getting this email to the Council members as I believe that they need to read it. In this email it is explained that it would be their responnsibilty to be a voice for Prescott School, and do what is best, advocate to reopen our school for the neighborhood children and if needed, children from other areas of town. 

Dear Leadership Council Members, 

As I have been a Prescott School advocate for many years, 23 years or so,  I am interested in  what this leadership council is going to discuss at this meeting as I have been

in past meetings. NOTE - Meeting on September 17 at Greenough Park (not in original  email)

I have noticed that the leadership council, and I may not be right in thinking that all people

on the council, has not come to the aid of Prescott School in the past where it counts

the most, the reopening of the school to the public school children.

When Prescott School was closed, many people opposed the decision. When it was

leased to Missoula International School many people opposed the decision. During

property meetings there was opposition to the lease continuing and also during

discussions of lease extensions. CORRECTION - During a closure attempt there were more than a hundred people in the Sentinel gym advocating for Prescott School. And during the 2004 closures there were many people on the side of Prescott School. However, since I sent my email, I can't change the text. What I would have liked to say is that not many people came to the subsequent meetings(after the closure in 2004).

During these meetings, and I could be wrong, I did not see or hear Lower Rattlesnake

Council members opposing the decisions to begin or continue the lease. With little

opposition from the public the Missoula International School was able to lease our

beloved public neighborhood school from 2004 to 2022(I believe that this is the time

they were out of Prescott School). NOTE - If this is untrue I stand corrected. I do actually know that one guy did side with me privately, which is wonderful. I have not heard from him lately.

I have always, and with just a handful of others, opposed the lease to this private school.

Our children in the middle school ages are bused across town to Washington Middle School

and throughout the years our elementary school children have also been bused to Lowell

I have been told. In 2012 there was a proposal to bus our children to Paxson, but instead

the district built an expensive modular(after having moved a modular from Rattlesnake

School in 2004 to Washington Middle School). And in 2015, one of the projects of the $152 

million dollar bond was to build 4 classrooms and a different entrance to Rattlesnake

School. This must have cost more millions. All while Prescott School was leased to the

private school. And the 2012 modular was moved - another modular move!- to Jefferson School.

You can see that not having Prescott School in the Rattlensnake is costing our district

millions of dollars. 

I have forwarded information to this Council and to the Upper Rattlesnake Council 

regarding many issues that prove that it would be doable to reopen Prescott School. 

These include - the modular could be brought back to Prescott and fit where the older 

modular is, the enrollment will be increasing in 2030 according to an economist that

spoke  to the district, the boiler issues could be mitigated with a grant as they were

not long ago with another school, Lewis and Clark, the costs of reopening could by spread

out over the years which would include any major repairs. NOTE -  Perhaps these emails/docments did not go through.

I do have a forboding feeling whenever I see that the Lower Rattlesnake Council has a 

meeting. Because I feel that this Council will not come to the aid in promoting the 

reopening of Prescott School. This Council seems to side with the school district 

and does not fight for what is right for our neighborhood school. This is the most important

issue in front of the Neighborhood Council at this time.  A neighborhood school is the 

the most important aspect of a neighborhood.

When my family was at Prescott School a couple of years ago working on the

landscaping, raking, mowing, weedeating, etc. a LRNC member came to talk 

with us. He wondered why we were doing this landscaping and that it was a 

waste of time. And that the boiler was going to cost a million dollars, etc. This is

just an example of what I and others have come up against when it comes to the

LRNC(again, perhaps not all) when it comes to saving Prescott School. The LRNC 

could be an important part in rallying people to clean up their school and to reopen it, NOTE - I will add here Prescott School is in dire need of a good cleaning.(not in original email)

I would like the Council to stand up and be a voice for Prescott School. This is your most

important job at this time. The most important part of the Rattlesnake, both lower and 

upper, is the saving of this school for the children of this area. Prescott School has been

a part of the Rattlesnake since 1891 and needs to continue.

I do not believe that the Rattlesnake Neighborhood Councils should be divided into two,

the Upper and the Lower. Prescott School is important to all people in the Rattlesnake.

All the children are and have been affected by the closure and the lease of Prescott School.

In fact, all children and citizens of Missoula have been affected by the 2004 school closures(Rattlesnake Middle School, Prescott School, and Mt. Jumbo School) negatively.

As mentioned in the title of this email, there is need to come together with the Upper Rattle-snake Council to discuss Prescott School. And there is a need for ALL citizens of the

Rattlesnake Valley to have an open forum on how to utilize Prescott School so that

there is little busing of our children out of the Valley. We want our children to be able

to walk and bike to school and enjoy their neighborhood school. 

Please consider being a voice for reopening our most precious asset, Prescott School.

Please consider joining me in saving Prescott School. Please be a voice for Prescott School.

This school is crying out for your help as well as the help of others.

If this( NOTE -  help from the Council)- does not happen I do not see the need for Neighborhood Councils and this

Council needs to be disbanded. If this Council does not come to the aid of Prescott

School, there may be something else going on the Rattlesnake that is not transparent,

that is a push for housing or other issues. The Councils are

not meant for politics to run rampant in the neighborhoods, but what is best for them.

Please consider my viewpoints, which many people share,  and do what a Neighborhood

Council is meant to do. If I am wrong about where the Council stands on Prescott School,

I apologize profusely and would like to work together to save our school.

Jeanne Joscelyn

a Prescott School in Missoula advocate

406-721-9027

406- 303-0703

www.prescottschoolmissoula.blogspot.com

Facebook - Save Prescott School

YOUTUBE - Prescott School in Missoula

NOTE - There have been some corrections to grammar and other places which I have noted t o the original email. 

NOTE - not in the original email but important - A former Rattlesnake Council member who ran for the city council I believe, was a strong supporter of Prescott School and neighborhood schools. His name is Cass Chinske. Not sure on the spelling.