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 

TONI REHBEIN - not popular in Missoula!

Before the February 2013 MCPS Board Meeting to address the unpopular raise for Superintendent Alex Apostle there was a scheduled protest against the raise. People lined up and entered the Sentinel High School on the gym side of the high school.  

Some people chose to picket in front of the high school before entering the building to attend the meeting.

One picketer chose to single out former MCPS Board Chairwoman Toni Rehbein. As one can see Prescott School Missoula is not the only one that has negative feelings for Rehbein. Take a look at the picture -





"NO MORE Rehbein"

The sign on the left states, "NO MORE Rehbein"

 The middle  sign reads "Cost of IB - loss of sections, Increase Class Size, and Locked Computer Labs",  and the sign on the right says,  "SHOW SOME Respect to Real Educators!"

MCPS academies to give kids career head starts August 9th, 2014 edition of the Missoulian

Click on the link below to read about the MCPS academies.

MCPS academies to give kids career head starts


It would behoove the MCPS school district to just open our closed schools, terminate the lease with other schools and reopen these schools as the smaller school helps the entire district's children to succeed - as Missoula International School is finding out.

MIssoula County Public Schools Board Spotlight: Jim Sadler - Trustee since 1994

During the many years of Jim Sadler's service on the Missoula County Public Schools Board of Trustees as a high school member there have been several heartbreaking and unnecessary decisions that have negatively affected so many Missoula children's lives. A few of the sad events in recent years are: school closures, a school sale, leases of our public schools to private schools, and references of closing Hellgate High and of selling other elementary schools. During discussions on many of these issues Jim Sadler voiced his support even though most were elementary school issues and he is a high school trustee. In addition, Sadler wrote a letter recommending the razing of the historic old Roosevelt School on 6th Street to make room for a parking lot for Hellgate students.

Prescott School Missoula believes that there has been enough tragedy and sadness due to the erosion of our neighborhood school infrastructure mentioned above. Missoula needs trustees that will protect our valuable and beloved schools which are our children's birthright and part of Missoula's heritage.

One reason for the creation of this blog and the sister blog missoula schools watchdog is to share information which can provide citizens with insight into the backgrounds and character of MCPS Trustees. Resumes mean something.

Ideally, the information below would have been posted at an earlier date so that citizens would have access to it before casting their votes for the school board positions. For a variety of reasons this was not able to be accomplished, however, this informatin can be of value if Jim Sadler decides to run again for the MCPS Board.

The decision to post this information on the Prescott School Missoula blog as well as it's sister blog is that Trustee Sadler has NEVER supported Prescott School for use by public school students and has ALWAYS advocated for the lease of Prescott to Missoula International School.

_________________________________________________________________________________

 

JIM SADLER MISSOULIAN  ARTICLES FROM 1984

 
Two articles published in the Missoulian newspaper one from June 13^th, 1984 and another from the June 29^th, 1984 Missoulian regarding long-time Missoula County Public Schools High School Trustee Jim Sadler.

 

Below is the June 13^th, 1984 Missoulian article


Former Missoula lawyer faces five theft charges

Former lawyer James Sadler of Missoula was arrested Tuesday afternoon and charged with stealing almost $80,000 of his client’s money. Dressed in orange jail coveralls, Sadler appeared before Missoula District Judge Jack Green, who scheduled another hearing for June 27^th. A 5,000 bond requirement was dropped and Sadler was released on his own recognizance after spending less than two hours in Jail.

 
The five count charge filed in District court Tuesday by Deputy County Attorney Ed McLean accuses Sadler of taking money from clients in eal0estate deals and in his role as manager of an estate.

 
The counts range from $58,900 allegedly stolen in a real-estate deal to a $12,000 banking transaction, to “more than $300” from Sadler’s guardianship of an elderly man.

 
The thefts allegedly occurred between 1976 and 1982. McLean said the delay between the alleged incidents and the charges Tuesday was largely the result of the lengthy investigation.

 
A conviction for thefts of that magnitude can bring up to 10 years in prison on each count.

 
Sadler, 42, 1800 Cyprus Court, voluntarily surrendered this license to practice law last year when unspecified charges were brought before the Montana Bar Association.

 
The defendant’s lawyer, Thomas Frizzell of Missoula, declined comment on the case.

 
The following is from another article in the June 29^th, 1984 Missoulian under -


Community Briefs

 

Former lawyer James Sadler pleads innocent to theft chargesFormer Missoula lawyer James Sadler pleaded innocent Wednesday to charges that he stole almost $80,000 of his client’s money.

 A trial date has yet to be set before District Judge Jack Green.

Sadler, 42, 1808 Cyprus Court, was first charged June 12. The Missoula County attorney’s office accused him of five counts of theft involving client’s real estate deals and one elderly man’s estate. The approximately $80,000 is supposed to have been taken between 1976 and 1982.

 
in 1983 Sadler voluntarily surrendered his license to practice law after unspecified charges were brought before the state Bar Association. A conviction for thefts of the kind charged in Sadler’s case is punishable by up to 10 years in prison on each count.

 
Sadler is a former Missoula City Council member.

__________________________________________________________________________

 

Prescott School Missoula is of the understanding that Jim Sadler offered an Alford plea to these charges.

 
Note: The information above was posted on a missoulaschoolswatchdog.blogspot.com post.
The website missoula schools watchdog is a sister blog to Prescott School Missoula.

 

MCPS survey finds tech infrastructure highest priority for upgrade

MCPS survey finds tech infrastructure highest priority for upgrade

Missoula International School Infiltration of the MCPS Board of Trustees - Public Comment at recent MCPS Board Meeting

A little background – Prescott School was closed along with 2 other north side schools in 2004 and immediately leased to Missoula International School. Our hearts were broken in 2004 and many, I included, ten years later continue to be saddened by this unnecessary tragedy.

A blog created to provide information on Prescott School and the lease to Missoula International School, at www.prescottschoolmissoula.blogspot.com has a post and a page (at the top of the blog) which addresses the infiltration or possible infiltration of Missoula International School supporters of the MCPS Board of Trustees and another MCPS position. 

A list was created to address this topic and includes parents, officers, and business associates of Missoula International School. On this list are: Toni Rehbein, Adam Duerk, Michael Smith, Marta Pierpoint, and perhaps Joseph Knapp. The connections or possible connections to MIS are listed on the website. There certainly could be more - how can we be sure if there are more MIS supporters on the Board - we can't!?

Additionally, other Trustees were no doubt influenced by the pro-MIS Trustees on the Board.

Are there more names to add to the list of MIS infiltrators after the election this May? I believe so – it has come to my attention that Trustee Newbold’s spouse works at ALPS, (as does the spouse of Trustee Smith). ALPS is a business at which David Rehbein, spouse of former Trustee Toni Rehbein, is employed and I believe is the CEO.

I haven’t spoken with Trustee Kendall on this issue; however, Kendall was part of discussions of a private school middle school in Prescott in 2005. After a conversation with her my opinion will be clearer.

In short, has MIS run candidates currently and in the past for the MCPS Board in order to make decisions favorable to them?

Was Prescott actually closed to make way for the MIS lease?  And after 10 years of reflection, in my opinion, is, yes to both questions.

Influencing elections by private schools, is nothing new to Missoula by the way – it has been revealed in a lawsuit that there was influence by the leadership of St. Joseph’s School in a MCPS election which may have enabled the sale of Roosevelt School.

Because of the influence or even the possible influence of the private school in MCPS elections a repeat lease extension of Prescott School to MIssoula International School needs to be taken off the table.

It is painfully clear that MCPS needs Prescott School. A modular, massive busing of Rattlesnake children out of the Valley is proof enough. 

MCPS needs to begin making plans to again open our school to public school students in 2017.

MIS needs to make plans for another location after 2017.

MCPS renews private schools lease for building - Missoulian article reporting on the 2011 lease extension - so many reasons to vote against the lease but MCPS serves Missoula International School once again!!

Click on the link below to read a Missoulian article published on July 12, 2011 and written by reporter Victoria Edwards.

 Prescott School Missoula may have already posted this article - have to go back and check - however, decided to re-post it (again, if already posted).

There were so many reasons NOT to have voted for this lease, however, being the masters of Missoula International School that they are, MCPS Trustees voted in disloyal fashion TO ALLOW PRIVATE SCHOOL CHILDREN TO OCCUPY OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING for another FIVE YEARS!

MCPS renews private schools lease for building

Picture of Missoula International School 1998 state document showing Toni Rehbein as President!!

Below is a picture taken of a Missoula International School state document (Montana Corporation Annual Report) dated April 13, 1998. The arrow is pointing to the name of Toni Rehbein and reveals that she was serving during this year as President of Missoula International School. The address listed for Rehbein is 123 W. Hillcrest Dr., Missoula, MT 59803.

Missoula International School 1998 State Document - Toni Rehbein - President

This document is very important as it highlights what is going on at Prescott School in relation to the lease to Missoula International School. Rehbein was very high in the leadership of Missoula International School, serving as President for 2 years and Vice President for one year. (The documents for the other years showing Rehbein's leadership position are forthcoming on future blog posts.) 

Rehbein was elected in 2004 to the Missoula County Public Schools Board of Trustees and served as Chairwoman of the Board for a time before stepping down in 2013.

 Did the private school vote, both the Catholic and MIS, help Rehbein win the election in 2004 (in addition to her running mates, Scott Bixler, and Joe Toth?  Prescott School Missoula - YES!  These 3 Trustees, psm believes, Rehbein, Bixler, and Toth, were NOT challenged in elections subsequent to 2004, with the exception of the 2013 election when Bixler and Toth were ousted (yeah!). Rehbein chose not to run in 2013.

Prescott School Missoula maintains that Rehbein, along with other DISLOYAL MCPS officials, are using Prescott School to help Missoula International School with its facility needs which is totally corrupt for several reasons.

Our Rattlesnake Valley PUBLIC SCHOOL students are denied the availability to attend their neighborhood public school facility.

AND - Missoula County Public Schools is NOT supposed to be assisting private schools!!

This lease is costing taxpayers accumulatively (for a decade) millions of dollars! This lease is NOT a revenue producer!

The Prescott School property is not being properly maintained to district standards despite what MIS says and some district officials say.

ETC....

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.

When you advocate for a school which is occupied by a private school you get the Missoula police talking to you

Prescott School Missoula must be doing something right. Whenever psm is in the Prescott School neighborhood, a police man pulls up and wants to talk.

The police in Missoula have all been very nice to Prescott School Missoula. They state that Missoula International School has called them, most likely Julie Lennox, headmaster of MIS, and that psm is causing some sort of consternation for them.

What Missoula International School is saying by their actions is that they want to be left alone without any opposition to enjoy what is one of Missoula's almost hidden treasures, Prescott School.

Prescott School is not, however, hidden for psm. Prescott School is on psm's mind very often.  psm thinks of the scandal and the hijacking of our treasured neighborhood school by nefarious school board members.  

Prescott School has served Rattlesnake children for MORE THAN A CENTURY! Prescott School was BUILT FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN.

 Missoula International School, however, contrary to what its leaders say in meetings and in letters is not taking very good care of the Prescott building. See You Tube video for pictures of the overgrown knapweed on the playground and the lack of grass due to lack of watering. It is not a win-win lease as MIS wants  you to believe either. See page on top of this blog, "MIS' Sweetheart Lease".

Anyway, to get back to the Missoula police talking to psm every time psm is in the neighborhood. MIS is actually trying to scare psm away from the premises and to discourage psn's visits to the Prescott School neighborhood.

MIS officials know that psm would not hurt a child. After all, psm has raised three sons and now has a granddaughter, loves kids, and is working hard so that the public school children in the Rattlesnake have a neighborhood school to attend.


MIS will call the police when psm is using the First Amendment rights to picket. MIS will call the police when psm is filming the traffic patterns in the area. This also is a right of all Americans. People cannot expect to have the right of privacy while riding in cars ( remember, psm is not filming children, just vehicles - the people in the vehicles do not show up well in the videos as the windows are darkened in most vehicles now days).

The goal of any filming is to illustrate with pictures the ASTRONOMICAL growth of MIS. A police man in one of psm's many visits with these nice public servants, did inform me that taking pictures of the children is not a good idea. (At one point psm was taking a picture of the playground to illustrate the huge numbers of MIS children, however, it was NEVER to single out the children, just to let people who were to view the picture the mushrooming growth of the lessee, MIS. For that reason psm will not use that picture.)

The vehicles turning onto Elm Street to go to Prescott (MIS) are huge in numbers!!! psm phoned the district and encouraged Superintendent Apostle to get down to the intersection of Elm Street and Van Buren and see what is happening to this school district as a result of this lease. psm is quite sure Apostle has not done this (or any other Trustee or administrator).

psm has counted about 85 cars a day streaming onto Elm Street and then taking a left into Prescott School. 85 vehicles streaming into Prescott every day. Each child within those vehicles taking away funds from MCPS (the number of children over 33 - the 2004 enrollment figure - students is the concern here).  2011 estimates of the loses to the district were in the $500,000 range by a math expert and now the loss is higher due to increase in MIS enrollment of about 40-50 more students. A woman from MIS during a church service talk which psm listened to stated that MIS enrollment is now at 190 !!! - which includes preschool is assume)

Our neighborhood school is being occupied by a private school and because of this children in the Rattlesnake wait to catch a bus to go to go to Rattlesnake School. Children in the Rattlesnake wait to catch a bus to go to Washington Middle School. Children in the Rattlesnake NEVER get to attend Prescott School. This has got to stop!

Yes, Missoulians, you are being taken for a very, very expensive ride by Superintendent Apostle and his gang of not-so-merry men and women.

And psm, as stated above, psm does not mind having friendly chats with our great Missoula police men.

edited 4-29-2014

Toni Rehbein (formerly Toni Smartt) former MIS officer and then MCPS Board Chair in a double-dipping scenario while employed with Missoula County Public Schools

ARTICLE TWO –  SUNDAY - APRIL 22^ND, 1990

Below is another article pertaining to the April 14, 1990 article in the Missoulian covering the issue of the conflict of interest in the previous article.  The first Missoulian article on this issue was dated April 14th, 1990. 

“School official to abide by attorney’s ruling”

By Gary Jahrig of the Missoulian

 

Quotes from the April 22, 1990 article follow:

'A Missoula School District 1 administrator says she will follow an attorney’s recommendation in clearing up a financial conflict of interest  she has with an organization that hires her to conduct addiction awareness workshops:'

“I’m absolutely interested in doing whatever he says,” said Toni Smartt, who coordinates district 1’s drug and alcohol program as well as its middle school system.  “I had no idea it was not OK. I’m going to stop immediately.”

and -

 

'Smartt said Friday she has also resigned her seat on the board of directors of Community Care, Inc., a non-profit organization that works with schools and other organizations to educate young people in the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse.'

and -

 

'Deputy Missoula County Attorney Mike Sehestedt, who serves as the school district’s lawyer, told Superintendent Jake Block last week that Smartt’s contract work with Community Care conflicts with her school district duties.'

and -

'The $23,700 payment has allowed Community Care to conduct six workshops since September, said Kay Hoag, Community Care administrator. '

and -

'Hoag said 28 payments in “varying amounts” were mad5 to about 10 people, including Smartt, to conduct workshops.  She declined to say exactly how much money Community Care paid to Smartt, whose District 1 salary is $39,650 a year.'

Sehestedt made his conflict of interest recommendation based on the Code of Federal Regulation, which states that employees of a grant recipient, in this case the school district, are not to have “financial or other “interest “in a firm that receives grant money such as Community Care does.'

and -

'Block said the district also has asked the state Office of Public Instruction, which administers federal grant money District 1 receives, to rule on the legality of Smartt’s dual role.'

and -

'“School District 1 can go ahead with the scheduled program with Community Care, but she can’t be paid by the corporation for participating in a grant-funded program, ‘Sehestedt said. '

and -
 

'Smartt said the conflict of interest ruling came as

a surprise to her.'

and -

“I haven’t been secretive, I just plain didn’t know,” she said.  “If a mistake was made, it was made in innocence and ignorance.”

PSM - Yeah right - does anyone really believe she didn't know what she was doing wasn't a little shady?!

INSET material from the above Missoulian article dated April 22, 1990:

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!

Nancy Pickhardt, who voted for the Prescott/MIS lease, resigns from Missoula school board, cites 'distraction'- Missoulian article - August 26, 2010

Click on the link below to read a Missoulian article by Jamie Kelly published on August 26, 2010 regarding the resignation of MCPS Trustee Nancy Pickhardt. The previous blog post explains that Trustee Nancy Pickhardt left an inapporpriate message on a citizen's message machine.


Nancy Pickhardt resigns from Missoula school board, cites 'distraction'


Pickhardt voted for the lease of Prescott School to the Missoula International School. Besides being out of line in her personal behavior towards her constituents, Pickhardt also was another DISLOYAL MCPS TRUSTEE. psm believes that former Board Chairwoman Toni Rehbein is the person who recruited Pickhardt.


It was well known that Pickhardt had many inappropriate displays of anger before her election to the MCPS Board of Trustees.

Missoula school trustee Pickhardt, who voted for the Prescott/MIS lease leaves profane message for critic of pay raise - Missoulian article published on August 4, 2010

Click on the link below to read a Missoulian article published on August 4, 2010 regarding a profane message left on a citizen's answering machine.

Trustee Nancy Pickhardt voted for the lease extension for three years and a possible five  years more of Prescott School to Missoula International School in 2009.

Missoula County Public Schools Trustees have serious character issues and this is just one example. We know that Trustee Toni Rehbein did some double dipping when working for the district in 1990. (See prior post on this issue). We also know that Rehbein has used her position as a MCPS Trustee to promote the lease of Prescott School to her former school of which she was an officer for three years (See prior posts and page post).

These are just two examples of unethical and DISLOYAL people on the MCPS Board of Trustees making decisions with our facilities.

As one can see, our school facilities are not in good hands.

Missoula school trustee Pickhardt leaves profane message for critic of pay raise

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.

 

 

 

 

 

Prescott School Missoula attended a MCPS facility meeting on December 6, 2013

Prescott School Missoula attended a MCPS facility meeting yesterday. It was NOT fun.

psm had not attended the MCPS facility study meetings in October or November. The reasoning for this is that psm attended EVERY Ad Hoc Property meeting in 2006-2007 during Superintendent Clark's tenure. When psm expressed opinions favorable to Prescott and other neighborhood schools at these meetings it was like psm was invisible and  did not hear a word. Why would psm think this newest property fiasco team, oops, facility meeting study, would act any differently?

It is NOT fun and is quite excruciating to attend any MCPS property and or facility meeting if you are a Prescott School advocate.

Just as in the Ad Hoc Property meetings people on this committee or the smaller committees have been hostile to Prescott in the past.

One example of a person hostile to Prescott School who attended yesterday's meeting has been featured on this blog as Prescott School's worst enemy - Rosemary Harrison.  Harrison as a long-time MCPS Trustee voted two or three times to close Prescott School (the closure decisions were reversed with the subsequent election of pro-Prescott Trustees) prior to voting for Prescott's closure in 2004 after a short 48 day deliberation period devastating our northeast Missoula area families as not only Prescott School was closed but two other schools were closed as well.

Subsequently, Harrison, in true disloyal fashion, voted to lease Prescott School to a competing private school.

Due to Harrison's disloyal streak - she along with Bixler, Toth, Rehbein, and Hemphill voted to sell another invaluable public school, Roosevelt School on Stephens Avenue, to the Catholic schools to house St. Josephs School in 2005. Thankfully, Harrison was voted out of office in May of 2005.

Another person who psm saw unfortunately, at this meeting yesterday, was Drake Lemm. Lemm was voted off the Board this May.

Drake Lemm ALWAYS expressed his desire to go forward with the Prescott School/MIS lease when the issue came before the Board. Lemm NEVER took seriously the public's concern regarding the huge financial loss to the district as a result of this lease. 

These two despised former MCPS Trustees just can't go back to their private lives and leave us Missoulians alone. No, they have to finagle their way onto a facility committee. It must be that each of these disloyal people have a big power trip and just can't let go. Therefore, the people who treasure our neighborhood public schools are forced to continually deal with two evil people.

Remember, Drake Lemm, as reported in the Missoula Independent, did work for Superintendent Clark in his capacity as a building contractor. The cost of the project was in the $4,000 range. The Missoula County Attorney's office decided that this amount was not a cause for concern. We, the people were the losers from this decision. One can Google Drake Lemm and school shenanigans to read the two Independent articles.

In a September 2005 Finance and Operations Meeting Lemm stated that a school in the Y area (near the airport) would be a good place to build a school. This idea did not make the minutes but it did make a citizen's recorder. A few years later the public learned that Lemm was before the County Commissioners office requesting to transfer some of his property near the Y to his wife. One commissioner questioned this particular request, however, it was granted.

Drake Lemm also built a subdivision in the Linda Vista area. The district has for years suggested a school to be built in this area.  There needs to be transparency on citizen's land holdings before being selected to serve on a MCPS facility study.

One more thing - and of particular interest is that the moochers from Missoula International School were there, Julie Lennox, headmaster of MIS and another fellow, the assistant headmaster. During public comment Lennox stated that MIS has taken good care of the property - NOT TRUE - see the YouTube video on this blog or use Google to view a slide show revealing the blatant negligence in the care of the grounds at Prescott. A citizen who is a botanist observed that, "there is not a blade of grass left in the lawn". What this person meant is that the grounds have little grass left and has been taken over by weeds.

Lennox also stated at this meeting that Prescott needed maintenance. The maintenance of Prescott School, according to the lease, is the responsibility of MIS. Lennox just admitted that MIS was not keeping up on it's duty in the maintenance of Prescott School (NOTE: Remember that the MCPS employee who was working illegally painting the gym in Prescott School - see another YouTube video on this blog - said that he had never seen a ceiling in such bad shape as the Prescott School gym - shame on  you MCPS!)

There was another citizen at the meeting who made some great comments during the public comment period regarding the district NOT following open meeting laws and public participation laws in the facility meetings. One example this citizen gave was that the smaller committees DID NOT TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT - PUBLIC COMMENT WAS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA!! Did facility leaders really think that taking public comment on a different day than a meeting is appropriate?!  This citizen encouraged the district to take a look at the financial implications of leasing a public school to a private school, i.e. the Prescott/MIS lease.

Prescott School Missoula is recommending that Trustees DO NOT TAKE THIS COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS  DUE TO ETHICAL PROBLEMS IN THIS STUDY'S PROCESS.

Oh - and by the way the two citizens who were looking out for the public's interest and the MIS moochers waited THREE AND A HALF HOURS TO SPEAK!! The Garden City Harvest moochers came to the meeting, left, and then came back in time for Josh Slotnik to give his rousing speech about how he and his fellow gardeners are so important for the Duncan Dr. property. To my knowledge - NOT ONE PERSON ON THIS COMMITTEE HAS VOICED A CONCERN THAT MCPS WILL MOST LIKELY NEED THIS LAND IN THE FUTURE.

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 

 

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.

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