Missoula County Public Schools could often be called by another name, Missoula County Painful Schools. For many Missoula citizens throughout the years the above moniker has been appropriate. Why? MCPS administrators and trustees have made many decisions which have negatively effected the everyday life and education of Missoula's children, teachers, staff, and other citizens.
msw will list some of the negative actions that have taken place throughout the years by MCPS and periodically update this information by adding on to the list as other actions come to mind.
THE LIST OF PAINFUL DECISIONS BY MISSOULA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS:
The 2004 school closures. MCPS closed THREE schools in March of 2004, Rattlesnake Middle School, Prescott School, and Mount Jumbo School. The closures took place after only 48 days of deliberation, from February 5 to March 25 resulting in a decision at one o'clock in the morning after 7 hours of heated discussion.
:Closing Roosevelt School.
Leasing Roosevelt School to a private school, St. Joseph's School.
Leasing Prescott School to a private school, Missoula International School.
Extending the lease of Roosevelt School in November of 2004, rather than in when the lease expired, msw believes in June of 2004.
Selling Roosevelt School, encumbered with a 5 year lease at a lease price that some say was lower that market value, thus contributing to a sweetheart sale.
Closing Lincoln School.
Selling Lincoln School.
Closing Central School.
Selling Central School.
Closing Emma Dickinson School.
Closing Jefferson School.
Starting expensive programs when economic times are difficult, such as the International Baccalaureate Program (IB).
Planning to extend the International Baccalaureate Program to the lower grades.
Not being honest with the public on the total cost of the IB program.
Not releasing information to a watchdog group, Montana Policy Institute. MPI requested information on the costs and revenue for the MCPS budget as well as all Montana school districts. This information has never been released even though the institute has stated it would not cost the district any money.
ETC, ETC, ETC.
This list will be ongoing as time permits. msw believes that it will be quite long.
missoula schools watchdog is an advocate for neighborhood schools, district transparency and accountability, a basic education (the three R's), and a K-8 grade school configuration. missoula schools watchdog does not advocate closing or selling our schools, unnecessary busing, public schools helping private schools such as Missoula International School, irresponsible spending, and unnecessary and expensive programs such as the IB program. Now go to www.missoulaschoolwatchdog.blogspot.com
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