If the School Board and The Superintendent Do NOT Understand the Basic Concept That Helping Your Competion (read more)

Prescott School Missoula 's position on the latest facilities "study" by Missoula County Public Schools.

"If the superintendent and the Board of Trustees do not understand the basic concept that leasing a public school (Prescott School) to the competition (Missoula International School) is harmful and not in the best interests of the district, then psm's opinion and I'm sure others, MCPS has no business embarking on yet another facilities study." 

"In order for this district to gain credibility, it would have to engage in a multitude of actions: the termination of the Prescott/MIS lease would be first on the list of these corrective actions for the district."

"Additionally, if the superintendent and the school board do not understand that the district needs to reopen Prescott School instead of building expensive modulars and sending Rattlesnake School children to Paxson they, again, do not have any business embarking on a facilties study."

 

Background: In 2004 MCPS closed three schools within a 48 day time span. This shortsighted decision had devastating consequences for not only the north side of our city but throughout the city.

After closing the three schools, one of the closed schools was leased for a 5 year term to a private school Missoula International School. Prescott School is located in the lower Rattlesnake.

 

 In 2009, a leased extension for 3 years was approved and in 2011, another lease extension was approved for 5 years for a total of 13 years.

 

Citizens, including a math professor, have come forward in meetings and have stated that his lease is cosing the district hundreds of thousands of dollars due to the increase in MIS enrollment throughout the years.

Shortly before the  2011 lease extension discussin for approving the lease estension the math professor sent an email to all trustees and the superintendent stating that the Prescott School lease to Missoula International School is now costing the distirct $500,000 a year.

This figure has most likely increased as MIS enrollment has increased since 2011. Strangly but predictably this information was brushed aside and ignored as it still is to this date.