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!)