Rattlesnake School showing signs of over-crowding - We need Prescott School!

                                 Rattlesnake School in 2026

There have been conversations lately about the increased enrollment of Rattlesnake School. There are now three kindergartens and the three fifth  grade rooms are very full - about 28 or so children per class! In past years this was not considered too many children per class, however, in more recent years state officials have developed class size recommendations which are lower than the 28-30 children per classroom. 

It apperars that Prescott School is needed now rather than in 2030 when an economist predicted that the elementary enrollment would increase. His study was presented in 2004 at a High School Futures Meeting. 

The school district has spent multi-millions of dollars due to the closure of Prescott School - 

Here's how - 

First loss of ANB funding - this is state money which goes to each school district based on enrollment. For each child that has gone to Misssoula International School since it was leased to Prescott School the district has lost approximately $6,000 per child. This was brought up several times by a math professor in letters and at meetings. 

Increased transportation - There are multiple buses runnning up and down the Rattelesnake carrying children to either Rattlesnake School or Washington Middle School. The children in these areas could attend the school in their area saving millions of dollars.

Building modulars and moving modulars- 

- moving a modular at Rattlesnake Middle School to Washington Middle School in 2004 - $$$ - hundreds to thousands

- building a modular in approximately 2012 rather than reopening Prescott School $$$ - approximately $300 thousand

- moving the modular to Jefferson School in 2015 - $$$ - hundreds to thousands

- building 4 classrooms and an entrance area to Rattlesnake Middle School - unknown cost - $$$ millions

 - other unknown expenditures that surely have been spent on the closure disruption $$$ - hundreds to thousands perhaps millions

A sale of Prescott School would cost the district multi-millions of additional dollars more as there will surely be pressure to build an addition or a new school for the middle school students that are now being bused to Washington Middle School

In a world where administrators and Trustees really care about the best interests of children and the best interests of the taxpayers the district would be enthusiastic about Prescott School. 

A Call for a Moratorium 2026 - Why Prescott School Must Be Protected

The document below is a summary of the email sent to the Missoula County Public Schools. 

It is imperative that there is a MORATORIUM on the sale or the long term lease of Prescott 

School. There has not been a thorough look at what the consequences would be for either 

scenario. 

Why Prescott School Must Be Protected: A Call for a Moratorium

For 135 years, Prescott School has been the heart of the Rattlesnake Valley. Generations of children walked its halls, families gathered on its playground, and neighbors built lifelong connections through the shared experience of a neighborhood school. Prescott is not just a building — it is part of our identity.

Today, that legacy is at risk.

The recent MCPS Property Study recommends exploring a sale or long‑term lease of Prescott School. But this recommendation is based on incomplete information, preventable neglect, and a lack of meaningful community engagement. Before any irreversible decisions are made, we must insist on an immediate moratorium.

Here’s why.

1. Prescott School Is Still Needed — Right Now

Since 2004, Rattlesnake middle‑schoolers have been bused four miles to Washington Middle School. Younger children have been sent to Lowell, Paxson, and even Mount Jumbo when enrollment spikes. Families have dealt with long bus rides, crowded classrooms, and constant reshuffling.

Prescott could house these students again. It was built for them. It still can serve them.

Selling Prescott would permanently eliminate one of the few remaining options for keeping Rattlesnake children in their own neighborhood.

2. The School’s Condition Was Preventable

The Property Study points to Prescott’s disrepair as a reason to sell it. But the truth is simple:

Prescott deteriorated because it was not maintained.

For nearly 20 years, the private school leasing the building failed to meet basic maintenance obligations. After the lease ended, MCPS did not restore upkeep to public‑school standards. Break‑ins, vandalism, broken windows, dead landscaping — all of this was preventable.

We cannot allow neglect to become an excuse for disposal.

3. Prescott Is a Historic Treasure

Prescott opened in 1891. Its 1910 building was designed by A.J. Gibson, one of Montana’s most celebrated architects. Its 1951 building was designed by H.E. Kirkemo. Together, they form a campus that reflects Missoula’s architectural and educational history.

The Rattlesnake has already lost one beloved school — Lincoln. Losing Prescott would be a second heartbreak, and a blow to the valley’s identity that cannot be undone.

4. Neighborhood Schools Matter

Neighborhood schools strengthen communities. They make it easier for parents to volunteer, attend events, and stay connected. They help children feel safe and supported. They build friendships that last for generations.

Research shows that small schools — like Prescott — help students thrive academically and socially. Prescott itself once had the highest reading scores in the district.

Why would we give up a school that works?

5. The Property Study Did Not Reflect Community Voices

The study:

• Looked only at vacated schools

• Was completed in a short timeframe

• Relied heavily on social media and QR codes

• Did not ask residents whether they wanted Prescott reopened

• Did not consider the educational benefits of neighborhood or small schools

A decision this important deserves a full, inclusive, community‑centered process.

6. Prescott Can Be Restored

Despite years of neglect, Prescott is still structurally sound. It has good bones, good materials, and a good design. Much of what it needs is cleaning, carpentry, and incremental repairs. Larger projects can be spread over time or funded through grants.

Prescott does not need to be replaced. It needs to be cared for.

7. A Moratorium Gives Us Time to Do This Right

A moratorium would:

• Pause all sale or lease actions

• Allow for full public discussion

• Give the district time to evaluate educational needs

• Protect future enrollment flexibility

• Prevent irreversible loss of a historic neighborhood school

This is not just about preserving a building. It’s about protecting a community resource that has served Missoula for more than a century.

Prescott School Has Life Left in It — And So Do We

Neighbors have stepped up with ideas, energy, and hope. Volunteers are ready to help. Families want their children closer to home. The community wants to preserve its history and strengthen its future.

Prescott School can be brought back to life. But only if we act now.

Please join in calling for an immediate moratorium on the sale or long‑term lease of Prescott School. Our children — and our community — deserve nothing less.