Is MIS Taking MCPS to the Cleaners?

The document below is being highlighted on this blog post at this time as much of the information within it is just as relevant today as it was when written in 2008.  In June of 2008 MCPS was in discussions of extending the lease of Prescott School to Missoula International School.  Many citizens, including Rattlesnake residents, were concerned about the negative implications of renewing this lease.  The document below explains some of the reservations brought forward in MCPS meetings discussing this issue.

Is MIS taking MCPS to the Cleaners?

Is MIS taking MCPS to the cleaners, MIS being Missoula International School and MCPS being Missoula County Public Schools?  After gathering the information needed from various sources and doing the math there is no question that the answer is a resounding “Yes!”  That is, you and I, the taxpayers of Missoula County are getting stuck with the bill for the operation of a private school, Missoula International School, which has leased Prescott School since 2004, a school built and maintained for public school children. 

At 1:00 a.m. on March 25th , 2004, Missoula County Public School Trustees voted to close three schools in northeast Missoula:  Rattlesnake Middle School (grades 6-8), Prescott Elementary School (grades 4&5) in the Rattlesnake Valley, and Mount Jumbo School (grades K-3) in East Missoula.  Subsequently, on June 8, 2004, school board trustees voted to lease one of the closed schools, Prescott Elementary School, to Missoula International School, a private Spanish-emersion school. 

First, let’s take a look at the lease rate. The current lease rate for MIS of Prescott School is extremely low.  The square footage includes 24,240 square feet for the Prescott School building itself, in addition to a 950 square foot modular which is situated to the north of the school building, with a total of 25,190 square feet of school space.  The lease rate was $20,000 for the first three years (2004-'05school year, 2005-‘06, and the 2006-'07 school year) and $30,000 for the second two years (2007-’08school year and the 2008-'09 school year) for the 5 year lease. That is, the lease rate for the first three years was $.79 per square foot and $ 1.19 per square foot for last two years. The average lease rate for the 5 year lease is $.95 per square foot.  In comparison, the lease rate for Roosevelt School to St. Joseph’s Catholic School was $l.75 square foot and for Mount Jumbo School the lease rate to Walla Walla College is presently $2.25 per square foot (information from an administrator via a trustee). In other words, the lease price for Prescott School during the first three years to MIS was almost one-third the price of the Mount Jumbo lease and one-half the price of the Roosevelt lease.  This inconsistency shows favoritism toward Missoula International School by MCPS trustees. Who wouldn’t want to keep this sweetheart deal?!

On June 8^th of 2004 a letter to the editor was printed in the Missoulian by a citizen that pointed out the financial problems of leasing a public school to a private school.  The conclusion was that the school district was poised to lose tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars if the lease was approved.  Nevertheless, the lease was approved at the June 8, 2004 School Board meeting by the majority of the elementary school trustees (5-0 with two abstaining) and ratified the next day, June 9^th.

See earlier blogpost featuring this letter to the editor, titled, "Low rent will hurt, not help district" by David Patterson on this blog - Prescott School Missoula.

One paragraph from the letter follows:

"The price is ridiculously low-about what you would pay to rent a moderately large house in Missoula. Such a low rent would amount to a subsidy to a private school which competes for students with our public schools. Because of Montana’s enrollment-based school funding formula, if the International School adds just five additional students because of this move, then the rental loses more than it gains for the school district. If the International School expands further, the loss to the public schools could run into the tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars."

Prior to leasing Prescott School, the Missoula International School was housed in two locations before leasing Prescott School. 

As stated in a letter from MIS dated April 21, 2004, “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.”

As one can see from this letter, the move to Prescott School was definitely a giant improvement in facilities for the private school, courtesy of MCPS.

Note:  The above is the first part of a document written in 2008. The second part will appear on a seperate blogpost at a later date as time permits.