Where are the people who closed Prescott School and then leased it to the private Missoula International School?

Where are the people who were responsible for closing our most treasured Prescott School?
Remember - the people, the Missoula County Public Schools Trustees, are by name:

Board Chairwoman - Rosemary Harrison
Trustee Jenda Hemphill(aka Jenda Cummings) later Board Chairwoman
Trustee Toni Rehbein (aka Toni Smartt) and later Board Chairwoman
Trustee Scott Bixler
Trustee Joe Toth

The above Trustees voted in the July, 2004 MCPS Board Meeting. This meeting was the SECOND vote on the Prescott School closure issue.

The Missoula County Public Schools Trustees who voted on March 24, the first vote, to close the school were)(only a 48 day process!)

Rosemary Harrison (see above)
Jenda Hemphill (see above)
Naomi Kimbell (aka Naomi DeMarinis)
and
David Merrill

Trustees who did not vote for the closure were: Suzette Dussault, Colleen Rogers, and Carol Bellin.

As one can see only four MCPS Trustees can radically transform  a neighborhood, a school district, and the city as a whole. It is quite apparent that there needs to be a tweaking of the process of school closures and also for school sales.

To get back to the topic on where the Trustees who voted for the closure of Prescott School are today -

Without too much research I believe that most of the people listed are still in Missoula. Rosemary Harrison is now a realtor, Scott Bixler was and still is I believe, working for the Forest Service, Joe Toth was and still is, I believe, working as a fireman. Jenda Hemphill, I have heard, unfortunately, has a disease, which I won't mention here. Naomi Kimbell, I believe is writing like her father did before her. And, I will have to see if I can find out where David Merrill works. Later: In 2006, PSM received, perhaps from Merrill himself a sticker with the following wording, "Global Warming Solution.org and in smaller letters, "be a part of it". Other than this connection I do not know David Merrill's work history.

Montana State Tax document shows that former MCPS Trustee (and Board Chair) Toni Rehbein was the president of Missoula International School  - Also shows Martha Newell as vice president

The point is that all of these people are now leading their own lives away from their past school board duties and none are taking responsibility for the troubles which they have caused. None are being held accountable for our crowded schools, for the busing of half of our school children due to the school closures for which they voted, for all the increased infrastructure building, etc. Wouldn't it have been just as easy to be cautious and NOT to have closed the schools, not to have sold a school, and not to have leased a school to a private school? Yes, but politics got in the way.

And politics is still in the way - One of the above Trustees was voted out of office, and soon after helped to start the Missoula Education Foundation. This foundation works closely with the school district. All the better to be close to MCPS business, including being part of the bond committee) and to manipulate outcomes of decision making. This Trustee also has children and grandchildren - so is his/her hands in school business affecting her grandchildren. Do they attend a school with the International Baccalaureate program is instituted by MCPS for example? PSM saw Harrison at the opening of the IB program at Lewis an Clark School. She was hugging a young man who could have been her son. Again, was her grandchild a student at Lewis and Clark School? Was the IB program pushed by Harrison with the idea that her grandchild could attend this school?

All things to consider so that lessons can be learned for future decisions.

edited on April 25, 2026 additions in blue 

Linking the School Facility Study recommendations with Voting Record of Former MCPS Trustee Rosemary Harrison (who is NOW serving on this Committee!!)

Missoula County Public Schools, in my opinion, is making some drastic mistakes in its facilities planning.

And no wonder. The people involved in the planning process are none other than the people who got us into this mess in the first place.

One person, and I believe one of the major culprits in this latest facility plan fiasco, is Rosemary Harrison. Harrison voted to close several schools: Dickinson, Roosevelt, Prescott, Mt. Jumbo, and Rattlesnake Middle School.  Harrison went on to vote to sell Roosevelt School in 2005. Harrison also went on to vote for the lease of Prescott School to the competing private school Missoula International School in 2004 only weeks after the closure.

Other culprits in this gigantically expensive decades-long facility merry-go-round are:

 Roosevelt Closure - (circa 1998) - Superintendent Vagner, MCPS administrators, in addition to Harrison are Trustees Hemphill (Cummings), and others for which I am unsure at this time.

Roosevelt School Sale - (2005) – In addition to Harrison other Trustees voting for this sale were Jenda Hemphill, Toni Rehbein, Scott Bixler, and Joe Toth.

First North East School Closure Vote - (2004) - Superintendent Clark, MCPS administrators, and in addition to Harrison were Trustees Jenda Hemphill, Naomi Kimbell, and David Merrill.

Second North East School Closure Vote - (2004) – (This second vote was due to a repeat of the first school closure decision process due to violations in open meeting laws) - Superintendent Jim Clark, MCPS administrators, and in addition to Harrison were Trustees Jenda Hemphill, Toni Rehbein (formerly Toni Smartt), Scott Bixler, and Joe Toth.

Lease of Prescott School to Missoula International School – 2004 – Superintendent Clark, MCPS administrators, and in addition to Harrison were Trustees Jenda Hemphill, Naomi Kimbell, Scott Bixler, and Joe Toth.

Two lease extension of Prescott School to Missoula International School were approved by disloyal and malfeasance Trustees: one in 2009 and the other in 2011 under the leadership of Superintendent Alex Apostle (was this why he was hired?)

Did Missoulians know that in this facility planning study has NOT given the closed schools the value of an open school – that is all closed schools were considered INACTIVE and all open schools are considered ACTIVE!!

Look at the connection that is being made in this post and you will see how us Missoulians are being taken for a ride – a very expensive ride. Many of the schools which were closed, sold, and/or leased to the competition by Rosemary Harrison are the schools which are now considered INACTIVE and most likely the reason why Harrison was selected to be in this planning study. HARRISON (AND OTHER DISLOYAL PEOPLE) WANT TO COMPLETE WHAT SHE STARTED – the non-use or disposal of the schools for which she closed: Dickinson, Roosevelt (check - she accomplished the disposal of this property), Prescott, Mt. Jumbo, and Rattlesnake Middle School (check -she accomplished the disappearance of this school).

If Rosemary Harrison, other MCPS Facility Study people, and the MCPS officials  complete the plan that is outlined in this article, we Missoulians (students, families, taxpayers, neighborhoods) ARE THE LOSERS – BIG TIME!!

 This latest study is a fraud (just like others before it) because of who is involved and the complete and utter lack of due diligence in school size, school configuration, i.e. K-8 vs. middle schools, costs of busing, costs of remodeling vs. building a new school, etc.).

Please Missoulians, stick up for Prescott School and other INACTIVE schools, such as Whittier, Dickinson, Mt. Jumbo, and Jefferson – THESE SCHOOLS NEED A VOICE! It is the NEIGHBORHOOD SMALL SCHOOL THAT IS KING IN PROVIDING A GOOD EDUCATION FOR OUR STUDENTS. Contact MCPS school officials at: Missoula County Public Schools, 214 S. Sixth West, Missoula, MT 59801.

I think that all of the above is correct – my apologies if not.

Sign the Petition - "Reopen Prescott School for Public School Children" Go to www.ipetitions.com to sign!

There are a couple of petitions beginning to be circulated having to do with the reopening of Prescott School for public school children.

Prescott School Missoula, however, has been wanting to get an online version of a petition for this very important issue for quite awhile.

Now there is an official online version of a petition for the reopening of Prescott School!!

Prescott School Missoula is excited about this latest activity for advocating for our favorite neighborhood school - Prescott School.

Sign the Petition  - "Reopen Prescott School for Public School Children!"  Go to www.ipetitions.com

Please also SPREAD THE WORD about the petition!! Either sign the electronic version at www.ipetitions or sign the paper version if someone comes to your door or if you see one in public somewhere!

Viva Prescott School!

Today is the 10th anniverary of one of the most tragic school decisions in Missoula's history, the closure of Rattlesnake Middle School, Prescott School, and Mount Jumbo School

On March 25, at 1:00 a.m., 2004, the Missoula County Public Schools Board of Trustees voted to close THREE schools on the north side of Missoula. This was, as the title of the post states, one of the most tragic decisions ever in Missoula's educational scene. The neighborhood school is the lynch pin of a successful educational system and to take is away is heartbreaking for all.

The votes for the closures were: Rosemary Harrison, Chair of the Board, Jenda Hemphill, Naomi Kimbell(who just weeks later would become the executive director of Missoula International School), and David Merrill (who was elected to reopen Prescott School in a prior year therefore dismissing his mandate for supporting Prescott School).

In the second vote for the closures(this was due to an Open Meeting lawsuit filed by Molly Moody and Allan Oines) the closure MCPS Trustees were Rosemary Harrison, Jenda Hemphill, Toni Rehbein (past President and Vice President of Missoula International School), Scott Bixler, and Joe Toth.

The superintendent of Missoula County Public Schools at the time of the school closures was Jim Clark. Clark in psm's opinion will go down as one of the country's worst superintendents due to his shortsighted, mismanaged, and cold-hearted decisions. During Clark's tenure another tragic decision was approved by MCPS, the sale of Roosevelt School to St. Josephs School, a Catholic school.

The negative consequences have been many. Instead of saving money the school closures have cost Missoulians most likely millions of  dollars. East Missoula children attend Bonner in droves. Many Rattlesnake area children and other Missoula children now attend Missoula International School which is now located in Prescott School in a most disloyal decision shortly after the closures costing taxpayers now in the millions due to funding formulas based on enrollment. Thousands and thousands of dollars have gone into renovating the schools to which the children were relocated. Busing costs have increased. We, the public and perhaps even school officials will never know the true cost of the these school closures. The school district will try to keep the ongoing costs from public view as much as possible. For example, psm found that the removing of the science equipment taken out of Rattlesnake Middle School cost the district approximately $10,000! This information was revealed due to a Request for Documents case.

Also tragic were the ties and the bonds that broke when our children were torn away from the schools for which they knew for so long. Strong friendships were broken. Teachers whom loved their schools and who had taught in the schools for decades were asked to teach in a totally new environment. Traditions which were recognized for decades were ended.

What a tragedy!!!

Prescott School Missoula was so effected by this decision as a son was to attend Rattlesnake Middle School the following year. Instead of walking a couple of blocks to school for his 6th-8th grades, he was forced to attend  a school quite far from home which was by the way overcrowded from the beginning, Washington Middle School. Two of three sons attended Prescott School and even psm's grandmother attended Prescott in the early 1900's!! Prescott School Missoula has never gotten over this tragic decision and is why psm had created this blog. Prescott School must be reopened so this tragic decision lasts as few years as possible.

Our hearts were broken into a million pieces 10 years ago today.

May we never forget so that it does not happen to children in Missoula again.

'King Arthur' becomes 'Arturo' in Missoula International School performances- Missoulian article by Kim Briggeman published in the December 14th edition

Click on the link below to read a Missoulian article on a performance by Missoula International Schoool children.

King Arthur' becomes 'Arturo' in Missoula International School performances

Prescott School MIssoula comments -

In 2004 MCPS closed three schools within a 48 day time span. This shortsighted decision has had devastating consequences for not only the north side of our city but throughout the school system of Missoula. The closure Trustees were Trustees Rosemary Harrison, Jenda Hemphill, Naomi Kimbell, and David Merrill. 

A repeat of the closure decision was visited in July of 2004 due to an open meeting lawsuit against the district filed by Allan Oines and Molly Moody. FYI – The only person allowed to speak before the decision was approved was Prescott Principal Cindy Christensen who advocated for closure of her own school!! Thanks Cindy!

The second 2004 closure Trustees were Rosemary Harrison, Jenda Hemphill, Naomi Kimbell, Toni Rehbein, Scott Bixler, and Joe Toth (Rehbein, Bixler, and Toth had been elected in May of 2004).

After closing the three schools, Prescott School was leased in another rushed decision (again in 48 days) for a 5 year term to the private school Missoula International School. In 2009, a lease extension for 3 years was approved and in 2011, another lease extension was approved for 5 years for a total of 13 years. Trustees voting for the lease extension in 2009 were Scott Bixler, Joe Toth, Jenda Hemphill, Nancy Pickhardt, Joseph Knapp, and (not sure on this).  Trustees voting for the lease extension in 2011 were Scott Bixler, Shelly Wills, Michael Smith, and Joseph Knapp.

Citizens, including a math professor, have come forward in meetings and have stated that this lease is costing the district hundreds of thousands of dollars due to the increase in MIS enrollment throughout the years. The professor warned Trustees in 2004 that the lease could hit MCPS hard financially.  Prior to the 2011 lease extension approval the math professor sent an EMAIL TO ALL TRUSTEES AND THE SUPERINTENDENT STATING THAT THE PRESCOTT SCHOOL LEASE TO MISSOULA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL WAS AT THAT TIME COSTING THE DISTRICT $500,000 A YEAR!  Strangely but predictably this information was brushed aside and ignored by district officials

In 2004, MIS enrollment was 33 and in 2011 enrollment had increased to 121 (According to county numbers).. UPDATE – Since the approval of the lease extension in 2011 MIS enrollment has increased by 40 students thus an additional loss of approximately $200,000 (40 x $5,000) which brings the loss to the district in the $700,000 range!  The sweetheart lease rates do NOT make up for this loss. Should not Knapp, Bixler, Wills, and Smith be responsible for this amount?! And should not the other closure/lease/lease extension Trustees also bear the brunt of this loss?!

 If the superintendent and the Board of Trustees do not understand the basic concept that leasing a public school to the competition then in my opinion and I’m quite sure in others as well, MCPS has no business embarking on yet another facilities study.

Unless the district and the steering committee state up front that its first order of business is to terminate the Prescott School/MIS lease, MCPS has NO credibility and all involved should pack up and go home. UPDATE – A citizen at the latest facility meeting requested the district produce a report on this lease. 

By the way, two citizens and the MIS “moochers” along with other “moochers” had to wait 3 and ½ hours to wait to speak during public comment. MCPS really DOES NOT VALUE PUBLIC COMMENT!

Another FYI – Rosemary Harrison and Drake Lemm are on the facility committee! Harrison harmed not only Prescott School, but voted to close AND SELL Roosevelt and I believe voted to close Dickinson – HARRISON IS THE QUEEN OF MISSOULA SCHOOL CLOSURES and Lemm always endorsed the Prescott/MIS lease.

The Prescott School/Missoula International School lease can be considered the epicenter ofschool corruption in Missoula.

Note: Some of the information in this post has already been included in other Prescott School Missoula's blog posts. This post has some summary points embedded within.

 

 

 

 

 

Grantsdale School’s 620-pound historic bell removed as it waits for a new home - November 11, 2013 Missoulian article

Click on the link below to read a November 11, 2013,  Missoulian article written by Betsy Cohen reporting on the removal of the bell in the Grantsdale School which was closed last spring by the Hamilton School District.

Grantsdale School’s 620-pound historic bell removed as it waits for a new home

See below Prescott School Missoula's thoughts on this article, on the 2004 school closures, and the closure of neighborhood schools in general.


Quote, "The bell and its 23-foot-high tower were recently transferred to the Ravalli County Historical Society in a move that has been in the works since last spring; when the Hamilton School District decided it could no longer afford to keep the 124-year-old Grantsdale School open."
 

Prescott School Missoula feels sad for the citizens of this area that had their school closed last spring The picture in the Missoulian along with the Grantsdale School closure article of two girls crying during a closure meeting broke psm's heart.


In 2004, many tears were shed as three of Missoula's northeast schools were closed, one with a long history as well, Prescott School. Prescott had served Missoula's children since 1893!!

It is my belief that the Hamilton school district did NOT have to close this school.  The Trustees could have found a way to keep it open - there must have been a myriad of options available to them - just as there was in 2004 in Missoula. People who were against the Missoula closures arrived at the closure meeting with the opinion that all three schools could remain open.  Some came to the March 24-25, 2004 meeting with alternative budgets which were ignored.

What it takes is a commitment to keeping neighborhood schools open. This needs to be coupled with a belief that it is the SMALL schools that have withstood the test of time and  are the best option for students.

If there were an independent study of the 2004 closures in Missoula I believe that they would find that it was a disastrous decision in every way.

What resulted as a consequence of the 2004 closures is crowded schools, both elementary and middle schools. A private school, Missoula International School, leasing Prescott School has siphoned off many of the public school students as a direct result of leasing Prescott. According to professionals this lease has cost the district $500,000/ per year in the past few years. Starting with an enrollment of 33 children, MIS has increased its enrollment since 2004 to approximately 186 students.  
Also egregiously, is that the district decided to build a modular at a cost of approximately $250,000 in 2012 and ALSO as of this year (2013) made the decision to bus Rattlesnake children to Pason. The reason that the district decided to build the modular in the first place s so the district would not have to bus Rattlesnake children to Paxson!!

When all the facts are laid out on the table it is absolutely clear that this school district in refusing to reopen Prescott School is continuing its DISLOYALTY TO MISSOULA'S CHILDREN AND TAXPAYERS.

When a citizen visited with Rattlesnake Principal Seidensticker in February of 2012, Seidensticker said that he was told that reopening Prescott or Mt. Jumbo was not an option in dealing with the overcrowding of Rattlesnake School (which had been ongoing ever since the closures in 2004).

What is the busing budget as a result of the closures?
 
To continue on the subject of the consequences of the 2004 closures – Many East Missoula children are now (since 2004) ATTENDING BONNER SCHOOL. In one look at the exodus of the number of children switching from Rattlesnake or Washington Middle School a document that indicated that approximately 40-50 children made the switch. Financially, this equates to a loss to MCPS coffers of $200,000 or more.

(Bonner Principal Ardiana will NOT release the numbers of children from E. Missoula attending Bonner throughout the years - since 2004 per a citizen request.) What is the school district doing about this - NOTHING. MCPS officials do not acknowledge this important issue.  

To get back to the Grantsdale School closure - we see the citizens of this area rallying around this school to preserve its history. THIS REVEALS THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP THAT CITIZENS HAVE WITH THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS. THIS RELATIONSHIP IS IMPORTANT TO THE COHESIVENESS OF A COMMUNITY.

What really made Prescott School Missoula angry is when psm read a headline in the Missoulian a while ago that reported that the Hamilton School district is thinking of expanding its preschool!! The same thing happened in Missoula after the closures - the district expanded its preschool.

THIS SUPPORTS THE PREMISE THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN IF TRUSTEES JUST VALUE THESE PRICELESS ASSETS TO A COMMUNITY.

Post sent to publiccomment@mcps.k12.mt.us

Edited on November 19, 2013 

 

Booming student population pushes need for MCPS long-range facilities plan - Missoulian article in November 2, 2013 edition written by Betsy Cohen

Click on the link below to read an article by Missoulian reporter Betsy Cohen in the November 3rd edition reporting on the overcrowding of Missoula County Public Schools such as Rattlesnake School, just up the road from Prescott School.

The school district has been disloyal and negligent in actions taken which affect our Rattlesnake Valley students.

They have closed and sold Lincoln School (1986?) so that it is not available for handling the overflow from Rattlesnake School.

MCPS Trustees then closed Prescott School (2004) and subsequently leased it (also 2004) to a private school Missoula International School.

Citizens, including a math professor at the University of Montana, have figured that the losses to the district have been in the hundreds of thousands and now after 9 years of the Prescott School/MIS lease the loses must be in the millions of dollars.

This is all due to the state funding formula which attaches approximately $5,000 to each student.

So when a student decides to attend a private school the district loses that $5,000.  It is significant when a Missoula student decides to home school or attend a private school. It is even more significant and downright disloyal on the part of MCPS trustees and administrators when the student ATTENDS A PRIVATE SCHOOL WHICH IS HOUSED IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL which is the case of Missoula International School School students at Prescott School.

Another example of disloyalty by MCPS Trustees is the sale of Roosevelt School to St. Joseph's School in 2005. The enrollment of St. Joseph's School grew almost every year since the lease was approved around 1998 (not exactly sure of the year) and especially after the sale in 2005.

Families will surely take into consideration the school facility when deciding on a school including a private school and perhaps more so if a school is private. In each of the cases mentioned the public school was a HUGE UPGRADE IN THE PRIVATE SCHOOL'S PREVIOUS FACILITY/FACILITIES!!

The above cannot be overemphasized. The reason why these private schools pursue the public facility is to improve their school so as to attract additional students (which by the way come from the pool of children which attend MCPS).

Prescott School Missoula went before the Board for most every discussion of the leasing of Prescott School and before that for every attempt at closure.  Along with others, psm mentioned the upcoming enrollment increase, that of the echo echo boom children (the grandchildren of the baby boomers).

This future increase of students throughout the district was substantiated by work done by Dr. Larry Swanson and others. Dr. Swanson had contributed many hours free of charge to the district before 2004 and in 2009 he was contracted to do a comprehensive study for the distinct. (See tab above on this blog).

All of the free and professional work by Dr. Swanson was brushed aside, at the peril of MCPS children and Missoula taxpayers, by the Trustees at this time.

The Trustees whom voted for the 2004 north side closures were: Chairwoman Rosemary Harrison, Trustees Jenda Hemphill, Naomi Kimbell, and David Merrill.

The Trustees whom voted for the 2004 north side closures in the second vote brought on by an open meeting lawsuit against the district by Molly Moody and Allan Oines, were: Rosemary Harrison, Jenda Hemphill, Naomi Kimbell (who later became MIS's executive director - see multiple posts of this blog!), Toni Rehbein, Scott Bixler, and Joe Toth. Trustee Carol Bellin was the lone dissenter.

The Trustees whom voted for the lease of Prescott School to Missoula International School are: Rosemary Harrison, Jenda Hemphill, Naomi Kimbell, Joe Toth, and Scott Bixler. Toni Rehbein recused herself from the vote (See multiple posts on the connections Toni Rehbein has with MIS), and Carol Bellin voted against the lease.

Trustees whom voted for the lease extension in 2009: Scott Bixler, Joe Toth, Joseph Knapp, and others (psm needs to look into the documents for information on other votes).

Trustees whom voted for the Prescott School/MIS lease in 2011: Scott Bixler, Shelly Wills, Joseph Knapp, and Michael Smith.

psm will correct the voting information if any is found to be incorrect and or incomplete.

All of these MCPS Trustees have shown disloyalty to the district by assisting a private school - when their loyalties are by law supposed  to be ONLY to MCPS.

The picture for this article shows a modular at Rattlesnake School.

The article states that for the first time Rattlesnake students are being sent to Paxson.

MIS has received sweat heart leases for 9 years (see blog tab titled "MIS sweartheart lease" 

MIS has been negligent in the care of the playground and perhaps other areas of the school.(See You Tube video)

 MCPS has done maintenance on Prescott School at the district's expense, going against the lease agreement which stipulates that MIS is responsible for repair and maintenance. (See You Tube video)

psm is quite sure  based on past experience that there have been other favors to MIS form the MCPS school district.

Going forward - MCPS needs to let MIS know that the lease will be terminated at the end of this school year(there is surprisingly an opt out clause in the lease - which has not been included for MCPS in past leases). 

THEN MCPS NEEDS TO REOPEN PRESCOTT SCHOOL FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN.

How much more proof is there that WE NEED PRESCOTT SCHOOL!!

Booming student population pushes need for MCPS long-range facilities plan

MCPS gives 13 percent raise to Superintendent Apostle - Missoulian article from the January 16, 2013 edition

The link to the January 16th, 2013 article reporting on MCPS Superintendent's raise is below.

MCPS gives 13 percent raise to Superintendent Apostle

There were 92 comments (!) in the comment section after the article. One can find a lot of interesting information in many of the comments. Actually, Prescott School Missoula is in agreement with most of them as psm is against out-of-line salaries and raises for administrative positions. Remember: psm had a child profoundly effected by the 2004 school closures - the closing of three northeast schools at one time, including Prescott, Rattlesnake Middle School in the Rattlesnake Valley, and Mt. Jumbo in East Missoula.
The reasoning given for the closures was due to financial considerations, i.e. the administration stating there was not enough money to keep the schools open. Ever since this heartbreaking expereince, when there is wasteful spending a feeling of betrayal surfaces for psm - rightfully so, in my opinion.

One of the interesting comments that especially pertains to Prescott School is the following:

"1.   Sherman - January 15, 2013 8:27 pm

  So they had letters from the CEO of Alps. I believe that school board member Mike Smiths wife works for Alps.

also a letter from lambros, I believe lambros, Reibein and Apostle goe to the same church. I wonder how hard it was to get those letters."

"Sherman" states that Michael Smith's wife works for ALPS.  Another person also has worked for ALPS is DAVID REHBEIN - Toni Rehbein's husband. 
Would not the fact that Michael Smith's wife and Toni Rehbein's husband work at the same company be an important fact to know since MCPS Board Chair Toini Rehbein has acvocated for the Prescott/MIS lease several times and Michael Smith has voted for the Prescott/MIS lease extension.

As stated in many of the posts on this blog Missoula County Public Schools Board Chair served on the Board of Missoula International School shortly before being elected to the MCPS Board in 2004.

Was the reason Michael Smith ran for the school board to help secure the lease of Prescott School for Missoula International School?  It seems entirely possible, especially now that we know his connections to the Rehbeins.

Missoula builder, remodeler picked as newest MCPS trustee - Missoulian article from October 6th, 2010

Click on the link below to read an October, 2010 Missoulian article on the appointment of Michael Smith to the MCPS Board replacing Nancy Pickhardt.

Missoula builder, remodeler picked as newest MCPS trustee


Prescott School Missoula's thinking on this appointment:


Michael Smith is one of the trustees that voted for the MIS/Prescott School lease extension in 2011. It seems that Chairwoman Toni Rehbein held Smith in high regard.

Prescott School Missoula has read in Missoulian comments that Smith's wife works for ALPS. If this is correct there may be problems with conflict of interest issues.

Why is this? Chairwoman Toni Rehbein's husband has worked for ALPS in the past and may still work there (?). This would indicate that a board member has a spouse whom has worked with Toni Rehbein's husband.

Have either Michael Smith or Chairwoman Rehbein made this fact known to the public as in a public comment to the community. Was this information known to all the Board members during the interview process?

There needs to be a public discussion regarding this relationship to
determine if everything is on the up and up.

Was Michael chosen for his vote to extend the MIS/Prescott lease and did the Rehbein's influence his vote? This is an important question.

Russell Elementary students portray Lincoln, LeBron, more for 'wax museum'

Below is a link to an article reagarding Russell Elementary School in Missoula.

Quoted in the article is present-day principal Cindy Christensen.

Christensen is the former principal of Prescott School which was closed in 2004 along with two other northeast schools, Rattlesnake Middle School, and Mt. Jumbo School in East Missoula.

The reason Prescott School Missoula is posting this Missoulian artlcle is to point out that after closing Prescott School with the massive negative ramifications, financially, educationally, and societal, life goes on as usual for all the administrators and trutees involved in that devastating school closure decision in 2004. 

Cindy Christensen in her capacity as principal did not support Prescott, in fact, she threw this wonderful lower Rattlesnake School under the bus when she cried before the school board to close Prescott School as it had deminished energy.

There has been no accountability for the negative consequences that resulted from the closures for any of these administrators to this date.

Life goes on as usual for Cindy Christensen; however, Prescott School continues to suffer.






Russell Elementary students portray Lincoln, LeBron, more for 'wax museum'

MCPS goes forward with approval of Prescott School/MIS lease in 2004 even though a lawsuit had been filed against MCPS asking the court to void the board's decision to close three schools, which included Prescott

Below one can read parts of a Missoulian article written on May 11, 2004 by Jane Rider reporting on the proposed lease of Prescott School by Missoula International School.

Prescott School Missoula would like to bring to light the fact that the Prescott School/MIS lease was approved during the time in which  a lawsuit was filed  by two Missoula residents against MCPS that alleged the district violated state open meetings law during its budget preparation process just days before the May 11, 2004 Board Meeting.

MCPS Trustees knew they had been served a lawsuit in which Prescott School was involved AND WENT AHEAD WITH LEASING DISCUSSIONS OF PRESCOTT WITH MISSOULA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL.

Prescott School Missoula discussed this situation with a citizen knowledgeable with land issues.  This citizen's opinion on this issue was that the correct course of action by the attorney for the plaintiffs, John Schonz (may not be correct spelling) , Molly Moody and Allen Oinnes, would have been to file a temporary restraining order (TRO) to stop any lease negotiations.

Due to the fact that the attorney for the plaintiffs was not "on his game" the Prescott/MIS lease discussions went forward.

The title of the May 11, 20004 Missoulian article is -

"Spanish school eyes Prescott space"

Parts of the article follow -
 
- "Missoula International School has expressed interest in leasing Prescott Elementary School to consolidate its operations at one building.
- "The issue was discussed at Missoula County Public Schools' Finance & Operations Committee meeting last month. The committee recommended the administration continue talks with the international school and seek a legal opinion as to whether the district needs to issue a formal "request for proposals" before considering the deal."

- "Missoula International School is a nonprofit Spanish immersion school that serves children from preschool through third grade. The school currently instructs about 70 students at two locations. It owns a building at 518 South Ave. W., where the preschool and kindergarten classes are currently held. In addition, it leases space from the University Congregational Church on University Avenue to instruct students in first, second and third grades."

- "Missoula International hopes to consolidate at one location in time for the start of the 2004-05 fall school year, Pierpoint said Monday."

- "Though there are many buildings available in Missoula, few of them offer classrooms and play space, she said. Prescott became a possibility after MCPS' school board voted 4-3 on March 24 to close the lower Rattlesnake elementary school, along with Mount Jumbo Elementary and Rattlesnake Middle School, to help balance the 2004-05 elementary budget."

- "The district's plan calls for relocating most of the Rattlesnake middle-schoolers to Washington Middle School and transforming Rattlesnake Middle School into a K-5 elementary school in the upper Rattlesnake that would serve students who normally would have attended Mount Jumbo and Prescott."

- "But looming over any action is a lawsuit filed last week by two Missoula residents against MCPS that alleges the district violated state open meetings law during its budget preparation process this spring. The lawsuit asks the court to void the board's decision to close the three schools."

- "If successful, the lawsuit would require the district to gather more public input and provide citizens and trustees with greater access to district budget team meetings, more options and decision-making documents that school administrators considered early on before recommending how to balance the 2004-05 budget."

 

 

David Merrill dismisses his mandate when elected and voted to close Prescott School along with Rattlesnake Middle School and Mount Jumbo Schools on the evening of March 24th - 25th, 2004

When running for the MCPS school board in 2001, David Merrill stated that he was a proponent of re-opening Prescott School. Prescott School had been closed earlier that spring. In fact, he ran for the school board with two other people with the similar message, "re-open Prescott School" (Suzette Dussault and Colleen Rogers).  They sent out post cards with the three names that indicated that they believed in re-opening Prescott School.

Many believe that Merrill's position on the Prescott School issue was the reason for his victory at the polls and was indeed a mandate that he would support Prescott School that spring and in the future.

In a March 26, 2004, Missoulian article written by Jane Rider, the following statements can be found;

"The board's 4-3 vote at about 1:30 a.m. Thursday, came after more than seven hours of discussion over the district's secondary and elementary budgets. Trustees Rosemary Harrison, Jenda Hemphill, David Merrill and Naomi DeMarinis voted in favor of the school closures and consolidation of Rattlesnake. Trustees Suzette Dussault, Carol Bellin and Colleen Rogers voted against."

and -

"Merrill had indicated earlier in a straw vote that he wouldn't support closing Rattlesnake Middle School, but after the lengthy and futile effort to find money elsewhere to close the budget gap, he stated he was willing to close the middle school."

and -

"I'm not comfortable putting this off," he said. "This has been a very difficult process. I don't think we should continue down this path of indecision. I'm willing to change my vote."

By changing his vote on the closing of Rattlesnake Middle School he also was ignoring his mandate received in his election in 200l to not close Prescott School.

Were there other forces in Merrill's life that played into his decision to close the three schools?

Prescott School Missoula had heard that David Merrill was playing a lot of tennis with administrator Larry Johnson. psm (Prescott School Missoula) understands that Merrill and Johnson were friends. Whether their friendship began before or after he ran for the school board is unknown and may not even be pertinent to the issue. 

One can construe from the above information, that perhaps there was some school politics being discussed while playing tennis and perhaps the school closures was a topic. 

Whether or not Larry Johnson was able to influence Merrill's vote on the school closures is unknown.  The possibility existed , however, to do so.

Perhaps it is a good idea to stay away from unnecessary socializing with administrators during controversial decisions to avoid questions coming up in citizen's minds.

Another point that needs to be reiterated is that the decision came at 1:30 a.m. after 7 hours of deliberation.  To not postpone the  school closure decision, especially due to its magnitude, was a huge mistake. It is quite apparent that Chairwoman Harrison wished to make the decision that night, which placed trustees under a lot of pressure to make a hurried and unwise decision.

The trustees were under extreme pressure and could not have been thinking clearly at that time, in the morning after that many hours. of heated discussion, contrary to what they may have been thinking at the time. 

In fact, some people may have asked that the discussions be postponed to another day, however, psm is unsure that that happened.

Prescott School is TOO SMALL (Rehbein) - Prescott School is TOO BIG (Apostle) - Prescott School is a PERFECT SIZE - (Prescott School Missoula)

Prescott School Missoula hears so many excuses for not re-opening Prescott School located at 1100 Harrison St. in the lower Rattlesnake Valley. In 2004 during the school closures psm(Prescott School Missoula)  heard even more excuses during the school closures. 

This is the tragedy of the situation in which Missoulians find themselves; with so many closed schools and so much busing.

If a few, even a couple, of MCPS Trustees think that neighborhood schools have no value and think it is best to bus our children out of their neighborhoods, citizens will hear the most outrageous and sad excuses for closing a school or not re-opening a school by these pro "attendance center*  Trustees. 

Unfortunately, many citizens buy into the many false excuses for closing and not re-opening a school put forward by these trustees, administrators, and some citizens. It if likely many citizens do not have all the facts and do not realize all the negative "tentacles" that reach out to a community as a result from closing a school.

psm would like to mention two such excuses in this post.

In 2007, then Trustee Toni Rehbein, stated in a discussion during a school board meeting in which an appraisal of Prescott School was a topic, that Prescott School was TOO SMALL.

In a conversation about Prescott School with Superintendent Apostle earlier in this year at the administration building on 6th Street, when asked about re-opening Prescott School he stated that Prescott School was TOO BIG.

As one can see Trustees and administrators are reaching at every possible excuse to keep Prescott School closed.  These excuses are outlandish and reveal that there is really no valid or logical reasoning going on. 

MCPS district officials are concerned more about Missoula International School than they are about the very students in which they are charged to look after.

Prescott School Missoula's opinion and that of many others is that Prescott School is A PERFECT SIZE.

Many families, teachers, administrators at Prescott School have loved Prescott School for over a century precisely BECAUSE OF IT'S SIZE.  Prescott School offers a friendly and small environment conducive to effective learning for children of all ages. This small school tucked in at the bottom of Mt. Jumbo offers an idyllic setting for Missoula's PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN and needs to return for use by its rightful owners.


* During the 2004 school closures psm is of the understanding that administrators were using the phrase "attendance centers" to describe the schools that were to become larger due to the north side students being bused to them.

Rosemary Harrison, former MCPS Trustee and Board Chair- Prescott School's (and Roosevelt School's) worst enemy

Rosemary Harrison voted several times to close Prescott School

In 2001, 2003 and again in 2004, Rosemary Harrison, former Missoula County Public Schools Board Chairwoman, voted to close Prescott School. After the School Board elections in 2001 and 2003, the vote was reversed by pro-neighborhood school Trustees. Harrison, unfortunately, finally succeeded in her quest to close Prescott School in 2004.

Rosemary Harrison is most likely (there are others that are close) Prescott School's worst enemy.

Of course, Harrison had to have others to help her in her closure quest.  These were: Trustee Jenda Hemphill, Superintendent Jim Clark, Trustee David Merrill, and Trustee Naomi Kimbell (see prior posts regarding Naomi Kimbell's role in the school closure decision and her subsequent employment with MIS as executive director), and Prescott principal, Cindy Christensen. 

In the second vote to close the three schools due to a lawsuit against Harrison, etc. and Clark, more help for Harrison's closure quest came with Trustee Toni Rehbein, now Board Chair (see prior posts regarding her role in the leasing of Prescott School to a school for which she had served as president shortly before being elected to the MCPS Board of Trustees, Missoula International School), Trustee Scott Bixler, and Trustee Joe Toth.

There are other district officials that have been hostile towards Prescott School, however, the individuals above stand out most prominently.

Quotes from the Missoulian article about the closures follow:

"Public comments after the two budget decisions early Thursday morning did reveal deep division remains on the board.
"The decision tonight is enormously harmful to our kids," Dussault said. "It's not in the long-term interest of the district."

Added Rogers: "I don't think we know the ramifications of the decision.  We'll be right back here next year, making cuts."

Harrison provided the counterpoint: "I really do feel that we have made a good decision, and that makes me feel glad," she said.

Some trustees and members of the public who stayed until the end of the meeting called for greater public involvement in the budgeting process.

They noted that the budget team that crafted the recommendations presented to the board included district officials and principals, but no members of the board or the public.

Bellin said she hoped that next year the district would not have "an exclusive administration-only budget team."

Below is a link to a Missoulian article on the 2004 school closures for which she voted as the Chairwoman of the Missoula County Public Schools Board of Trustees.

Jumbo, Prescott schools closed

(Prescott School Missoula is working on including the link (that works) for this post.)
 


 

Savings from closing both Mt. Jumbo and Prescott Schools in 2004 is $116,626

In the Budget Work Session packet for April17, 2008, it shows that the MCPS school district saved only $116,667 for the fiscal year of 2004-2005 by closing Mt. Jumbo in East Missoula and Prescott School in the lower Rattlesnake.  

Such a tragedy, such turmoil, such a waste of energy, for so many families, students, and staff, for so little savings.

Prescott School Missoula is still in shock over this information.  This bit of news never made it to the papers - at least none that psm saw.

The information is not broken into the savings for each of the two schools.  Mt. Jumbo housed K-3 grades and Prescott housed 4-5 grades, therefore, the savings from the closure from Prescott School was a smaller percentage than just dividing the figure by half. Let's say the savings of closing Prescott School was a third of that figure which comes out to be approximately $38,000 (round it to $40,000)!

It's even more shocking when one looks over the MCPS Board and Committee agendas and minutes and reads again and again the huge amount of money the district is spending on so many less important things.

School infrastructure is the most important building block of a school system. Then comes teacher and then books (all three are imporant no matter what order they are placed).  Trustees have their priorities mixed up.

Of course $116,626 is a lot of money, however, when we are talking about the running of two very important schools it is so very little. 

And keep in mind that a math professor estimated that the district loses $500,000 annually on leasing Prescott School to Missoula International School.

Prescott School Missoula hopes others will be as upset about this bit of financial news as much as psm is.

This information provides fuel for Prescott School Missoula's thinking that Prescott School was closed to set in motion the lease of the school to Missoula International School. The savings are so minuscule - it just doesn't make sense to close a school for such a small amount of savings. 

Especially when the school was so popular and provided such a wonderful educational setting.

What a needless tragedy to close Prescott School.

Trustees tour schools, consider closure

Trustees tour schools, consider closure

Prescott School Missoula came across this article on the 2003 closure of Prescott School. 

Prescott School Missoula will comment more on the article as time permits.

Here's a quick comment though -

There is a picture of Trustees going through a school building.  They must have school closure on their minds. It appears the school is Rattlesnake Middle School as one person in the picture may be Rob Watson, the former principal at Rattlesnake Middle School (another principal that also did not speak out against the closures).

 My, how different things could have been if these Trustees would have had the highest good for students on their minds, that is the importance of a neighborhood school and the importance of small schools.

Cindy Christensen, former Prescott School principal throws her school under the bus in 2004

On the 23rd of April, 2004, Molly Moody and Allan Oines filed a lawsuit with the Fourth Judicial District Court.

The complaint follows the March 25, 2004, MCPS Board decision to close 3 northeast schools, Rattlesnake Middle School, Prescott School, and Mt. Jumbo School.

On the front page of the lawsuit on the right it states:

"COMPLAINT and PETITION TO SET ASIDE SCHOOL BOARD'S ACTIONS and TO COMPEL THE BOARD TO COMPLY WITH MONTANA'S RIGHT TO KNOW LAWS."

On page 2 and number 12 one will read, "Prior to the vote Chairwoman Harrison did allow one person to comment on the preliminary budget as finally presented to and voted on by the Board prior to the Board's vote.  That person was an acting principal at Prescott Elementary School and therefore an employee of the district."

Another pertinent paragraph (13) from the complaint follows:

"Chairwoman Harrison was asked by members of the public to allow them to comment before the vote was taken. Chairwoman Harrison refused the public's request.  Chairwoman Harrison did not allow any member of the public to comment on the approved preliminary budget UNTIL AFTER the Board had voted to approve the preliminary budget."

One is able to see in the above two paragraphs of the complaint that the process to close the three schools was fraught with corruption.

The complaint does not mention the name of the principal at Prescott School.  The principal in 2004 of Prescott School was Cindy Christensen.

Citizens who are interested in why Prescott School was closed and why it is now leased to Missoula International School would most likely be interested in this information.

It was said that Prescott School principal Cindy Christensen was emotional to the point of crying during her solo public comment calling on the closure of Prescott School. 

Another source of information regarding Cindy Christensen and her comments at the March 25th, 2004 school board meeting and suppporting the above comment is the March 26th, 2004, edition of the Missoulian is a front page article written by reporter Jane Rider , titled, "Prescott, Mount Jumbo closed" (the title actually needed to include Rattlesnake Middle School).

Quotes from the article pertaining to Cindy Christensen follow:

"During the evening, Prescott Principal Cindy Christensen made an emotional plea to the board to move ahead with closing Prescott, where enrollment has declined to just 128 students, expressing how emotionally and educationally difficult the threat of closure has been on the school's staff and students in recent years."

and -

"This is not what's best for kids," Christensen said. She also argued that the school population has shrunk to a size of diminished energy."

Note from Prescott School Missoula -  As psm had a child attending Prescott School during the closures psm can attest that Prescott School was a wonderful school and the fact that enrollment was down did not "diminish the energy" as Christensen states above.
If there was any diminished energy it would have come from the principal herself - as she was not for the school remaining open she would have would not have been a positive influence- in fact - psm had been told she was a negative influence and remained in her office talking on the phone quite a lot of the time (most likely to opponents of Prescott).

Note: The link to the Missoulian article from March 26, 2004, above in which one will be able to read additional information on  the school closures will be up as time permits. psm has had technical difficulties in linking the article to this blog. 

As one can see by the lawsuit material in addition to those from the Missoulian article reporting on the closures one comes away with the reality that Cindy Christensen was a proponent of the closure and went even futher to assist in the closure of not only Prescott, but Rattlesnake Middle School and Mt. Jumbo School. 

It appears that Cindy Christensen, the Prescott principal in 2004 was disloyal to her school by siding with the administration who was calling for the closure of Prescott and the two other schools.

It is not a stretch to conceptualize that Chairwoman of the Board Rosemary Harrison and Prescott principal Cindy Christensen planned in advance of the meeting to allow for Christensen to speak for the school closures even though others were not allowed.

If only Prescott School had had a loyal and steadfast principal that stood by her through thick and thin perhaps the tragedy of the closure could have been averted.

Cindy Christensen did indeed throw Prescott School under the bus. 

At this time Cindy Christensen is the principal of Russell School. Russell School, just won an award. 

Just think, if Christensen would have stood by her school, perhaps it could have been Prescott School that received that award.

                                    

 

 

                             

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.