Group recommends $158M in expansion, renovation projects at Missoula schools

Group recommends $158M in expansion, renovation projects at Missoula schools



This is a humongous amount all at once.  This bond will hurt many people financially.

It is not clear if the money is going where it needs to go the most.

And is it equitable for all areas of town? I don't think so.

Missoula County Public Schools: Thanks for placing bonds on ballot

Missoula County Public Schools: Thanks for placing bonds on ballot

missoula schools watchdog is back! missoula school (no s) watchdog will return to this site!

A while ago missoula schools watchdog just couldn't figure out how to write a post without the "missoulaonice" moniker at the end. 

This detail was bothering me so I decided to start a new website titled, "missoula school watchdog" (no s) so that all posts could be by "missoula school watchdog" not "missoulaonice".

I finally found out how I could get rid of the "missoulaonice" posted by moniker. Hooray!

By deleting the "missoulaonice" posted by moniker there will not be a posted by moniker. That is worth it to me.

So, therefore, I will be returning to posting on this blog and I will transfer some of the things from the missoula school watchdog(no s) website to this older site, missoula schools watchdog (with an s) site. I apologize for any confusion that this may have caused.

Technology has not been a strong point of mine, as one can see by this latest fiasco. As a Missoula baby boomer I was not taught computer skills in grade or high school, just old-fashioned typing and shorthand at Sentinel High! Many of my peers have done a good job embracing technology (not like me!).

This hasn't stopped my desire to share what I think are Missoula County Public Schools wrongdoings and corruption.

I'd like to encourage others who have experienced wrongdoing within our Missoula schools to start blogging! If I can do it so can you! I like the saying, "Sunlight is the best medicine for corruption", or something like that. 

Thanks to everyone who has stopped by this blog. Apologies to all for any mistakes in grammar and typing. I try not to make mistakes in content, however, if anyone finds  that something is inaccurate, let me know. There are avenues to comment on each post.

Let's get sanity back into our Missoula schools with a basic education in well-kept and maintained neighborhood schools! 

As a Missoula baby boomer I attended many K-8 schools, Lewis and Clark, Paxson, and Cold Springs. I also attended Meadow Hill(basically Missoula's first middle school and I didn't like it- just me),and for a few months I attended school in Lolo.

Of course, there were some problems back then, however, the K-8 system seemed to me to be superior to the middle school model - not just me!

Heartland Institute research onthe benefit of smaller schools published on

Click on the link below to read a report fromt he Heartland Institute on the benefit of smaller schools. It was published in 2002, however, it would be still relevant today if not moreso.


Heartland Intstitute research on the benefit of smaller schools

Editor's Note:  This article was posted on Prescott School Missoula's facebook page, prescott_msla twitter page, and sent via email to publiccomment@mcps.k12.mt.us - to MCPS trustees.

MCPS trustees approve teacher pay raise, administrative restructuring - Missoulian article from the June 12, 2013 edition by Betsy Cohen

Click on the link below to read an article by Betsy Cohen reporting on the Tuesday night MCPS Board Meeting on June 11, 2013. 

MCPS trustees approve teacher pay raise, administrative restructuring

Missoula teachers get 3 percent raise in tentative contract - Missoulian article from May 29th, 2013 edition

This Missoulian article was written for the May 29th, 2013 edition by Betsy Cohen.  I'm not sure if I posted it so I'm including it today.

Click on the link below to read the article -



Missoula teachers get 3 percent raise in tentative contract

Quotes from the article are -

"Missoula's public school teachers will receive a 3 percent increase in their base salaries for the 2013-14 academic year, which starts July 1, under a tentative bargaining agreement reached Tuesday.
The increase is significant and the highest bump teachers have received in recent years."

and -

"In 2009-10, Missoula teachers received no raise, in 2010-11 they got a 0.5 percent raise, and then a 2 percent raise in 2011-12, said Steve McHugh, Missoula County Public Schools director of human resources and labor relations."

A comment from one of the 10 comments after the article is from walter12 and follows:

 

 

   walter12 - May 29, 2013 7:08 am

You people need to know the truth about the MCPS. First thing, no certified teacher with any kind of position in the MCPS ever quits. They retire at 65 or later or die at their desks. Secondly, by Missoula and Montana standards, this is one of the best jobs in the state, by far.
Everyone knows that the best jobs in this state are: 1. Working for the Forest Service, 2. working for the State, 3. Teacher in the four big cities, 4, working for the county or city. These jobs are protected, they have great benefits, the pay is good, and there is no pressure.

 

Another interesting comment from Leadfoot follows -

Leadfoot - May 29, 2013 10:57 am

THIS IS, AS USUAL FOR THE MISSOULIAN, ONLY A PARTIALLY CORRECT ARTICLE. WHAT WAS LEFT OUT WAS THE FACT THAT THIS 3% APPLIES ONLY TO THE BASE SALARY. THERE ARE ADDITIONAL PAY INCREASES FOR SEVERAL OTHER CATAGORIES NOT YET DISCLOSED THAT APPLIES TO THE ABOVE MENTIONED MAJORITY OF TEACHERS WITH MANY YEARS OF SENIORITY. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR THIS GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS TO GIVE TOTAL PATENCY IN ITS PAY INCREASES....AND THEY COMPLAIN ABOUT A RAISE TO APOSTLE THAT WAS BUILT INTO HIS CONTRACT, BASED UPON INCENTIVES, THAT WERE REQUIRED BY LAW TO BE GIVEN TO HIM?!!!!

 missoula schools watchdog would have preferred a lower percentage wage due to MCPS salary and benefits part of the budget is now 90% of the budget when it needs to be in the 80% range.

Additionally, the most sensible thing to do is NOT give administrators such a large salary and to decrease the number of administrators.

PEAS, please: Engen to make formal proposal to purchase farm from MCPS for $1.2M - Missoulain article on June 11, 2013

Click the link below to read a report by Missoulian writer Betsy Cohen.

Another Rattlesnake school piece of property under the knife. Great.


PEAS, please: Engen to make formal proposal to purchase farm from MCPS for $1.2M