Sunday, November 24, 2013
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Veteran teacher returns from retirement to help at Rattlesnake Elementary
Click on the link below to read a Missoulian article reporting on a para-educator at Rattlesnake School.
The date of the article is October 24, 2013.
A little history is required here to understand why Mr. Christensen is working at an elementary school at Rattlesnake School rather than a middle school which was housed in this building prior to 2004, Rattlesnake Middle School.
The district stunned Rattlesnake Valley residents when on February 5th, 2004, they announced that they planned to close four schools on the north side of our city, Prescott School and Rattlesnake Midde School in the Rattlesnake Valley, Mt. Jumbo School in East Missoula,and
Notice that Mr. Christensen mentions his wife Cindy.
Cindy Christensen was the former principal at Prescott School located in the lower Rattlesnake on Harrison Street. In a 2004 Missoulian article during the closures of Prescott School and two other schools, the Missoulian reported that Principal Cindy Christensen said that Prescott School had "diminished energy" and pleaded with the Board to close the school.
As a parent of a child during this time I know that the school was beloved and the only diminished energy that Cindy would have experienced would have come from her own attitude toward Prescott.
If former principal Cindy Christensen had voiced her support for Prescott School in 2004 perhaps Prescott would still be open today. Cindy, along with other principals, went along with disreputable Trustees and administrators, and advocated for the closure of THREE northeast schools, Prescott, Mt. Jumbo School, and Rattlesnake Middle School.
All of our northeast middle school students since this tragic decision are bused to other middle schools on the southern side of our city. These middle schools, Washington Middle School and C.S Porter Middle School were crowded in 2004 and are now more crowded.
The process in 2004 was irresponsible as it was rushed in a 48 day time span.
Now Cindy's husband is working at a school for which she had a part in closing (Rattlesnake Middle School) and opening (Rattlesnake Elementary).
Had Cindy did her own research into the demographics of the city (showing increased enrollment in the near future) and the value of neighborhood and small schools she would have served Missoula's children, her school, and Missoula taxpayers in a responsible and loyal manner.
In the complaint document of a lawsuit filed shortly after the closures based on violations of open meetings law, it was revealed that Cindy Christensen was the ONLY person that was allowed by Board Chairwoman Rosemary Harrison to make a public comment BEFORE the closure decision. It was reported in the Missoulian article that Cindy was emotional - others said she was in tears. In other words, she stooped so low as to cry to make sure her opinion was heard (was this planned before the beginning of the meeting?)
Additionally the Rattlesnake School building is overcrowded and has been for a long time. The Missoulian reported in an article a couple of years ago that enrollment at Rattlesnake School had increased by 100 students from the beginning of Principal Seidensticker's employment as a principal at the school.
Just after the lease was extended to Missoula International School of Prescott School by the vote of four disloyal Trustees in 2011, the district sent notes home to Rattlesnake School parents letting them know that some students would be bused to Paxson. Instead of busing, however, the district built an expensive modular in the summer of 2012. This was to help alleviate the need for para-educators.
As we see in this article the district still needs paras, thus the hiring of Mr. Christensen.
The district needed to open Prescott School before building a modular to start the process of mediating the disaster brought about by the 2004 school closures.
Just a little FYI - in a phone call to Principal Seidensticker after reading a February Missoulian article reporting on sending Rattlesnake School students he informed a citizen that he was told that Mt. Jumbo and Prescott were not to be part of the conversation in dealing with the overcrowding of Rattlesnake School. When asked who this person was, Seidensticker refused to name names.
Veteran teacher returns from retirement to help at Rattlesnake Elementary
The date of the article is October 24, 2013.
A little history is required here to understand why Mr. Christensen is working at an elementary school at Rattlesnake School rather than a middle school which was housed in this building prior to 2004, Rattlesnake Middle School.
The district stunned Rattlesnake Valley residents when on February 5th, 2004, they announced that they planned to close four schools on the north side of our city, Prescott School and Rattlesnake Midde School in the Rattlesnake Valley, Mt. Jumbo School in East Missoula,and
Notice that Mr. Christensen mentions his wife Cindy.
Cindy Christensen was the former principal at Prescott School located in the lower Rattlesnake on Harrison Street. In a 2004 Missoulian article during the closures of Prescott School and two other schools, the Missoulian reported that Principal Cindy Christensen said that Prescott School had "diminished energy" and pleaded with the Board to close the school.
As a parent of a child during this time I know that the school was beloved and the only diminished energy that Cindy would have experienced would have come from her own attitude toward Prescott.
If former principal Cindy Christensen had voiced her support for Prescott School in 2004 perhaps Prescott would still be open today. Cindy, along with other principals, went along with disreputable Trustees and administrators, and advocated for the closure of THREE northeast schools, Prescott, Mt. Jumbo School, and Rattlesnake Middle School.
All of our northeast middle school students since this tragic decision are bused to other middle schools on the southern side of our city. These middle schools, Washington Middle School and C.S Porter Middle School were crowded in 2004 and are now more crowded.
The process in 2004 was irresponsible as it was rushed in a 48 day time span.
Now Cindy's husband is working at a school for which she had a part in closing (Rattlesnake Middle School) and opening (Rattlesnake Elementary).
Had Cindy did her own research into the demographics of the city (showing increased enrollment in the near future) and the value of neighborhood and small schools she would have served Missoula's children, her school, and Missoula taxpayers in a responsible and loyal manner.
In the complaint document of a lawsuit filed shortly after the closures based on violations of open meetings law, it was revealed that Cindy Christensen was the ONLY person that was allowed by Board Chairwoman Rosemary Harrison to make a public comment BEFORE the closure decision. It was reported in the Missoulian article that Cindy was emotional - others said she was in tears. In other words, she stooped so low as to cry to make sure her opinion was heard (was this planned before the beginning of the meeting?)
Additionally the Rattlesnake School building is overcrowded and has been for a long time. The Missoulian reported in an article a couple of years ago that enrollment at Rattlesnake School had increased by 100 students from the beginning of Principal Seidensticker's employment as a principal at the school.
Just after the lease was extended to Missoula International School of Prescott School by the vote of four disloyal Trustees in 2011, the district sent notes home to Rattlesnake School parents letting them know that some students would be bused to Paxson. Instead of busing, however, the district built an expensive modular in the summer of 2012. This was to help alleviate the need for para-educators.
As we see in this article the district still needs paras, thus the hiring of Mr. Christensen.
The district needed to open Prescott School before building a modular to start the process of mediating the disaster brought about by the 2004 school closures.
Just a little FYI - in a phone call to Principal Seidensticker after reading a February Missoulian article reporting on sending Rattlesnake School students he informed a citizen that he was told that Mt. Jumbo and Prescott were not to be part of the conversation in dealing with the overcrowding of Rattlesnake School. When asked who this person was, Seidensticker refused to name names.
Veteran teacher returns from retirement to help at Rattlesnake Elementary
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
PEAS Farm: Ensure future of community place Missoulian letter to the editor
Click on the link below to read a letter to the editor regarding the city buying acreage on Duncan Drive which is being leased by Garden City Harvest by Missoula County Public Schools.
msw take on this is that citizens are "jumping the gun" on the proposal of buying this property.
Missoula County Public Schools must make sure that the children of the school district will not need this piece of land for school use in the future. This has not been accomplished.
In the comment section read how some citizens are concerned about how the PEAS farm was able to build permanent structures on the land and who paid for the structures. Additionally, why was the PEAS farm allowed to plant so many trees, both evergreen and fruit?
PEAS Farm: Ensure future of community place
msw take on this is that citizens are "jumping the gun" on the proposal of buying this property.
Missoula County Public Schools must make sure that the children of the school district will not need this piece of land for school use in the future. This has not been accomplished.
In the comment section read how some citizens are concerned about how the PEAS farm was able to build permanent structures on the land and who paid for the structures. Additionally, why was the PEAS farm allowed to plant so many trees, both evergreen and fruit?
PEAS Farm: Ensure future of community place
Education: Common Core getting pushback - letter to the editor in the Missoulian on October 23, 2013
Click on the link below to read an interesting letter to the editor on Common Core by Trout Creek resident Kathleen Hassan published in the October 23, 2013 edition of the Missoulian. She describes what other states are doing to deal with Common Core Standards
Education: Common Core getting pushback
Education: Common Core getting pushback
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Missoula School Watchdog Breaking News!!! MCPS is looking at leasing or buying back Rattlesnake area Lincoln School!
Rumor has it - MCPS has made it known to some that it is interested in acquiring either by lease or purchase of the historic Lincoln School in the Rattlesnake Valley. The rumor is that the district is considering using Lincoln School to ease the crowding at Rattlesnake School.
As has been brought up by msw many times in public comment before the Board that Rattlesnake School is AT CAPACITY. In fact, the school district spent thousands on a modular just two summers ago. This modular houses only two classrooms.
And most importantly, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT EXTENDED THE LEASE OF PRESCOTT SCHOOL JUST 7 MONTHS PRIOR TO DISCUSSIONS OF BUSING RATTLESNAKE STUDENTS TO PAXSON SCHOOL.
The district did not send students to Paxson School and decided to go the modular route. This decision was entrenched in strange goings on by the district. Just one suspicious instance is that REGIONAL MANAGERS DID NOT KEEP ANY MINUTES.
msw would have liked for Lincoln School never to have been sold, however, msw is very happy that Lincoln School may be once again used for public school children.
ALSO - THE USE OF LINCOLN SCHOOL DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE NEED TO SELL OR LEASE PRESCOTT SCHOOL. WE NEED ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS IN THE RATTLESNAKE - JUST AS WE HAD FOR MANY YEARS.
Being such a proponent of neighborhood schools, msw believes that MCPS needs to look into the purchase of Lincoln School. Lincoln School has been a vital component thorough out the years beginning in 1912, the year it was built.
Being also such a proponent of our historic buildings msw sees a wonderful building full of charm which could still benefit Missoula citizens of all ages.
Having gone through Lincoln School recently msw believes that Lincoln School is in quite good shape - it needs basic maintenance for sure but other than that it is not in the realm of impossibility that this school could still be a great asset for MCPS and more specifically the Rattlesnake neighborhood. One person on the tour thought that the furnace was actually in good shape considering it's age.
msw LOVES LINCOLN SCHOOL, AS MANY OTHERS DO ALSO!!
Note: A part of msw's family history - msw's great-grandfather Willard Tiffany, was arriving at Lincoln School one morning (msw is not sure if Willard worked at Lincoln school as a janitor or what)and there to greet him was a big mountain lion!! I'm not sure what action he took, but it must have been quite a scary experience. The huge tree that was recently cut down was known to house many mountain lions throughout the years.
As has been mentioned on other msw's blog posts or(perhaps on other blogs such as Prescott School Missoula or missoula schools (with an s) watchdog msw attended Lincoln School! It was only for a month or two, however, msw remembers an important aspect of facility planning from this experience. msw lived in the Lewis and Clark area and because of overcrowding in the southern schools of Missoula 4th graders were bused to north side schools, thus the forth graders at Lewis and Clark School in 1964 were bused to Lincoln School - and we LOVED it as I remember. After moving to a 39th Street area home msw and all 4th graders from the Cold Springs area were bused to Paxson.
MCPS Trustees could take a page out of the 1960's facility arrangements. Busing one grade of students to another school makes more sense in man y aspects of school facility planning. Viva C. S. Porter (msw believes this was the superintendent at the time.)
As has been brought up by msw many times in public comment before the Board that Rattlesnake School is AT CAPACITY. In fact, the school district spent thousands on a modular just two summers ago. This modular houses only two classrooms.
And most importantly, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT EXTENDED THE LEASE OF PRESCOTT SCHOOL JUST 7 MONTHS PRIOR TO DISCUSSIONS OF BUSING RATTLESNAKE STUDENTS TO PAXSON SCHOOL.
The district did not send students to Paxson School and decided to go the modular route. This decision was entrenched in strange goings on by the district. Just one suspicious instance is that REGIONAL MANAGERS DID NOT KEEP ANY MINUTES.
msw would have liked for Lincoln School never to have been sold, however, msw is very happy that Lincoln School may be once again used for public school children.
ALSO - THE USE OF LINCOLN SCHOOL DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE NEED TO SELL OR LEASE PRESCOTT SCHOOL. WE NEED ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS IN THE RATTLESNAKE - JUST AS WE HAD FOR MANY YEARS.
Being such a proponent of neighborhood schools, msw believes that MCPS needs to look into the purchase of Lincoln School. Lincoln School has been a vital component thorough out the years beginning in 1912, the year it was built.
Being also such a proponent of our historic buildings msw sees a wonderful building full of charm which could still benefit Missoula citizens of all ages.
Having gone through Lincoln School recently msw believes that Lincoln School is in quite good shape - it needs basic maintenance for sure but other than that it is not in the realm of impossibility that this school could still be a great asset for MCPS and more specifically the Rattlesnake neighborhood. One person on the tour thought that the furnace was actually in good shape considering it's age.
msw LOVES LINCOLN SCHOOL, AS MANY OTHERS DO ALSO!!
Note: A part of msw's family history - msw's great-grandfather Willard Tiffany, was arriving at Lincoln School one morning (msw is not sure if Willard worked at Lincoln school as a janitor or what)and there to greet him was a big mountain lion!! I'm not sure what action he took, but it must have been quite a scary experience. The huge tree that was recently cut down was known to house many mountain lions throughout the years.
As has been mentioned on other msw's blog posts or(perhaps on other blogs such as Prescott School Missoula or missoula schools (with an s) watchdog msw attended Lincoln School! It was only for a month or two, however, msw remembers an important aspect of facility planning from this experience. msw lived in the Lewis and Clark area and because of overcrowding in the southern schools of Missoula 4th graders were bused to north side schools, thus the forth graders at Lewis and Clark School in 1964 were bused to Lincoln School - and we LOVED it as I remember. After moving to a 39th Street area home msw and all 4th graders from the Cold Springs area were bused to Paxson.
MCPS Trustees could take a page out of the 1960's facility arrangements. Busing one grade of students to another school makes more sense in man y aspects of school facility planning. Viva C. S. Porter (msw believes this was the superintendent at the time.)
Key to future business success – high-quality pre-kindergarten
Click on the link below to read a Guest Column in the Missoulian's October 20th edition.
Missoula School Watchdog is an opponent of adding more and more grade levels, i.e. pre=school and all day kindergarten. msw is also an opponent of adding more and more programs such as the International Baccalaureate Program, the Health Academy, and the Spanish Immersion program. The superintendent and the Board have been over-extending the district's ability to offer the basics due to all the additional programs.
Key to future business success – high-quality pre-kindergarten
Missoula School Watchdog is an opponent of adding more and more grade levels, i.e. pre=school and all day kindergarten. msw is also an opponent of adding more and more programs such as the International Baccalaureate Program, the Health Academy, and the Spanish Immersion program. The superintendent and the Board have been over-extending the district's ability to offer the basics due to all the additional programs.
Key to future business success – high-quality pre-kindergarten
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Big Sky High chemistry teacher makes class a blast for students Missoulian article published on October 16, 2013
Click on the link below to read a report on teaching chemistry at Big Sky High School in Missoula.
Big Sky High chemistry teacher makes class a blast for students
Big Sky High chemistry teacher makes class a blast for students
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
5th-grade orchestra lessons keep MCPS teacher on the go - Missoulian article published in the October 9th edition
Click on the link below to read a Missoulian article reporting on a MCPS orchestra program.
5th-grade orchestra lessons keep MCPS teacher on the go
5th-grade orchestra lessons keep MCPS teacher on the go
Monday, October 7, 2013
MCPS to begin long-range planning on school upgrades-Missoulian article on-line on October 7, 2013
MCPS to begin long-range planning on school upgrades
Missoula school watchdog is leery of any long-range planning by this group of MCPS school officials. How can anyone trust them as they close our neighborhood schools, lease and sell our public schools to private schools, accept outrageous salary increases when our teachers are complaining of lack of basic school supplies, etc.etc.?
Missoula school watchdog is leery of any long-range planning by this group of MCPS school officials. How can anyone trust them as they close our neighborhood schools, lease and sell our public schools to private schools, accept outrageous salary increases when our teachers are complaining of lack of basic school supplies, etc.etc.?
3-day youth summit at University of Montana promotes community food movement Missoulian article - October 7, 2013
Click the link below to read a Missoulian article published in the October 7tb, 2013 edition reporting on the PEAS farm 3-day summit for children on farm related work.
3-day youth summit at University of Montana promotes community food movement
Thursday, October 3, 2013
MCPS: Move meetings to more accessible location
Click on the link below to read a letter to the editor by Ross Best in the September 25th, 2013 edition of the Missoulian regarding the location of MCPS meetings to discuss facilities.
Ross is correct in saying the Linda Vista Golf Course meeting room is just not convenient for most Missoulians.
The one comment so far after the letter states,
tinlizzie - September 25, 2013 9:47 am
Perhaps they are trying to discourage the public from attending? Also, they probably have to rent this space so why aren't they using the meeting rooms in the Administration building, or the public library.
missoulaschoolwatchdog is in agreement with tinlizzie on both counts - that is, MCPS is discouraging the public from attending meetings AND that the district is unwisely using funds to rent the facility when they could be using any number of MCPS buildings for this use.
MCPS: Move meetings to more accessible location
Ross is correct in saying the Linda Vista Golf Course meeting room is just not convenient for most Missoulians.
The one comment so far after the letter states,
tinlizzie - September 25, 2013 9:47 am
missoulaschoolwatchdog is in agreement with tinlizzie on both counts - that is, MCPS is discouraging the public from attending meetings AND that the district is unwisely using funds to rent the facility when they could be using any number of MCPS buildings for this use.
MCPS: Move meetings to more accessible location
Missoula College: West Campus site would serve needs
missoulaschoolwatchdog is a proponet of building the Missoula College on Fort Missoula property.
Read the letter below from another citizen who shares the same beliefs.
Missoula College: West Campus site would serve needs
Read the letter below from another citizen who shares the same beliefs.
Missoula College: West Campus site would serve needs
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Easy Video | The Best Camera To Use For Video Marketing
Here's another You Tube video camera review. This video camera shopping can
get a little complicated. Anyone have some recommendations!?
Best Camera for YouTube?
Hey Missoulians!!
Get your cameras out. Head out to a school board meeting. Go interview Missoula
County Public Schools administrators, teachers, board members, and even the superintendent, Alex
Apostle.
I was looking into buying a camera for You Tube videos. I saw this You Tube video
information on good cameras for filming vides and thought I'd share it with people that checked into the missoulaschoolwatchdog blog.
Let's go Missoula school watchdogs!! We have to keep our government officials, especially the
MCPS officials, on their toes.
I'm not sure if I'll go with this camera - for some this camera may be a little too much money. I've actually tried a Canon ELPH camera, not this one. The quality of the pictures was not always great, however, the video quality was better.
Get your cameras out. Head out to a school board meeting. Go interview Missoula
County Public Schools administrators, teachers, board members, and even the superintendent, Alex
Apostle.
I was looking into buying a camera for You Tube videos. I saw this You Tube video
information on good cameras for filming vides and thought I'd share it with people that checked into the missoulaschoolwatchdog blog.
Let's go Missoula school watchdogs!! We have to keep our government officials, especially the
MCPS officials, on their toes.
I'm not sure if I'll go with this camera - for some this camera may be a little too much money. I've actually tried a Canon ELPH camera, not this one. The quality of the pictures was not always great, however, the video quality was better.
Monday, September 23, 2013
Missoula school election ads broke campaign law - Bixler vs. Suprock - Missoulian article
Click on the link below to read a Missoulain article reporting on the legalities of a Missoula
citizen's ads stating that he would support financially candidates for the school board to
oust Toni Rehbein and other trustees.
While some citizens did not agree with the ads, missoulaschool watchdog and many other Missoula citizens applauded
someone standing up against these corrupt Board members.
If only citizens could read the dispicable letter, the letter msw calls the Toni, Joe, and Scott letter, written in 2005 unfairly maligning a citizen running against their beloved but despised by most people, Rosemary Harrison.
Missoula school election ads broke campaign law
citizen's ads stating that he would support financially candidates for the school board to
oust Toni Rehbein and other trustees.
While some citizens did not agree with the ads, missoulaschool watchdog and many other Missoula citizens applauded
someone standing up against these corrupt Board members.
If only citizens could read the dispicable letter, the letter msw calls the Toni, Joe, and Scott letter, written in 2005 unfairly maligning a citizen running against their beloved but despised by most people, Rosemary Harrison.
Missoula school election ads broke campaign law
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
News Alert - Superintendent Apostle states that MCPS will institute a K-12 International Baccalaureate Program
On April 26, 2013 missoula school watchdog was in the administrative officed on 6th Street (the former Roosevelt School and before that the home of Missoula County High School) and was visiting with Superintendent Apostle. It was not a scheduled visit, however, msw found out something very interesting and at the same time alarming.
MISSOULA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ALEX APOSTLE IS PLANNING ON IMPLEMENTING A K-12 INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM!!!
msw has not seen this in the Missoulian, the Missoula Independent, or anywhere else in the print media. msw has also not heard this on the radio news. msw believes that this blog has broke the news of this disastrous move for our district, taxpayers, and students. We all suffer when an IB is implemented in our American schools.
O
MISSOULA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ALEX APOSTLE IS PLANNING ON IMPLEMENTING A K-12 INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM!!!
msw has not seen this in the Missoulian, the Missoula Independent, or anywhere else in the print media. msw has also not heard this on the radio news. msw believes that this blog has broke the news of this disastrous move for our district, taxpayers, and students. We all suffer when an IB is implemented in our American schools.
O
MCPS prepares facilities for school year, looks toward possible bond - July 19, 2013 Missoulian article
Click on the link below to read an article on a new boiler being installed at Lewis and Clark School in Missoula.
MCPS prepares facilities for school year, looks toward possible bond
What does missoula school watchdog think about this new boiler?
msw needs to give a little background so as to give readers the reason for msw ideas on this topic.
Dave Ramsey is a wonderful guy who gives financial advise to millions of Americans. Ramsey has published many books and has a national radio show on how to manage money - both for individual families and also for businesses. His home turf is in Nashville, Tennessee. Ramsey's life story is a riches to rags to riches story. His financial advise centers around helping people prevent what happened to him and his wife and to help people get out of financial troubles.
The link to Dave Ramsey's website is -
www.daveramsey.com
Why is msw bringing Dave Ramsey into a discussion on a boiler at Lewis and Clark School? In the article it states that the government has given the district a grant for the boiler for thousands of dollars.
How would Dave Ramssey have handled this issue? msw believes that Dave Ramsey would have set aside a SINKING FUND for this expenditure. A boiler and other school infrastructure items such as a roof, flooring, any number of things will no doubt need replacing. So - instead of waiting for the boiler (or roof, etc.) to go out and act surprised that it did, a school district would have in place a SINKING FUND WITH ALL THE FUNDS NEEDED ALL READY IN PLACE TO DEAL WITH THIS REPLACEMENT.
Missoula County Public Schools as well as many government entities in Missoula and all across the country would benefit enormormously from Dave Ramsey's sage advice. Note: So would all the taxpayers that fund our schools/government.
MCPS prepares facilities for school year, looks toward possible bond
What does missoula school watchdog think about this new boiler?
msw needs to give a little background so as to give readers the reason for msw ideas on this topic.
Dave Ramsey is a wonderful guy who gives financial advise to millions of Americans. Ramsey has published many books and has a national radio show on how to manage money - both for individual families and also for businesses. His home turf is in Nashville, Tennessee. Ramsey's life story is a riches to rags to riches story. His financial advise centers around helping people prevent what happened to him and his wife and to help people get out of financial troubles.
The link to Dave Ramsey's website is -
www.daveramsey.com
Why is msw bringing Dave Ramsey into a discussion on a boiler at Lewis and Clark School? In the article it states that the government has given the district a grant for the boiler for thousands of dollars.
How would Dave Ramssey have handled this issue? msw believes that Dave Ramsey would have set aside a SINKING FUND for this expenditure. A boiler and other school infrastructure items such as a roof, flooring, any number of things will no doubt need replacing. So - instead of waiting for the boiler (or roof, etc.) to go out and act surprised that it did, a school district would have in place a SINKING FUND WITH ALL THE FUNDS NEEDED ALL READY IN PLACE TO DEAL WITH THIS REPLACEMENT.
Missoula County Public Schools as well as many government entities in Missoula and all across the country would benefit enormormously from Dave Ramsey's sage advice. Note: So would all the taxpayers that fund our schools/government.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
An article missoula schools watchdog downloaded off the internet regarding the STEM program August 2013
missoula school watchdog is leery of most everything Superintendent Alex Apostle is doing. So when it comes to the STEM program it raises a red flag for msw.
In using the search engine of Google one will bring up some articles - msw chose this article about STEM in a random fashion and decided to post it on the missoula school watchdog blog just as an example of what was out there on the web on this topic.
Click on the link below to read an article regarding STEM.
successfulstemeducation.org/events/329/agenda
In using the search engine of Google one will bring up some articles - msw chose this article about STEM in a random fashion and decided to post it on the missoula school watchdog blog just as an example of what was out there on the web on this topic.
Click on the link below to read an article regarding STEM.
successfulstemeducation.org/events/329/agenda
Kennedy Center selects Missoula to join school arts network
Click on the link below to read the Missoulian article published in the August 13, 2013 edition and written by Rob Chaney.
Kennedy Center selects Missoula to join school arts network
One of the comments on line by "movingon" states:
movingon - 3 hours ago
Missoula School Watchdog is a little leery of the STEM acronym in regard to programs for our schools. Is it connected to the United Nations just as the International Baccalaureate Program? msw will have do a little more digging and look into the above question. msw agrees with the comments of "movingon" and is not a fan at all of Superintendent Alex Apostle. In closing, I thought I'd post another comment by "buzzfeedback" (one of msw favorite Missoulian posters) posted in the comment section of the Missoulian artlce: Buzz Feedback - 1 hour ago
Kennedy Center selects Missoula to join school arts network
One of the comments on line by "movingon" states:
movingon - 3 hours ago
"Congratulations to the MCPS fine arts teachers and John Combs on this wonderful recognition to all your hard work. Make no mistake, however, Alex Apostle had NOTHING to do with the Kennedy Center partnering with Missoula Schools. This was achieved thanks to John Combs and other community members who did the hard work to complete the application. Apostle is nothing but a bully who leads by intimidation and subtle threats to teachers and staff. When good news comes along, he lets you know that he expects to be the one taking the credit."
"Tune in next week when Big Al cuts arts funding because the last School Board didn't bother to come up with the money to cover his raise in the out years."
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Welcome to the second blog by a watchdog for missoula schools!
The first post on this blog was on June 13th, of this year, ten days ago. In that post msw explained why there is now a second blog by a self-confessed watchdog for Missoula's schools - mostly the public school system, MCPS.
The move to a slightly different blog name has more to do with technology than anything else. msw was unable to separate from a blog titled "missoula on ice" Therefore, all of the blog posts were posted with the "missoula on ice" name in addition to the "rattlesnake grandma" name.
There was a desire to have all posts with the same title as the blog, therefore, missoula schoolS watchdog was renamed missoula school (no s) watchdog.
missoula school watchdog apologizes for this change but felt that it was necessary.
Please feel free to browse both missoula schools watchdog blog as well as the new missoula school watchdog blog as there most likely will not be time to transfer many of the posts from missoula schools watchdog to the new blog.
Thank you very much to all the readers of both blogs for your understanding in this transition!
missoula school watchdog would like to encourage others to get on the web and tell us what YOU see going on in the missoula school system. MCPS needs hundreds of watchdogs that's for sure. As many Missoulians know there is MUCH to report!
Of course one doesn't exactly need a blog to voice their opinion. Thanks to all that are keeping an eye on the district for the student's sake and for the sake of the Missoula taxpayer. In February of this year when the district gave Superintendent Apostle a 13% raise hundrreds of Missoulians stepped up to the plate and expressed their outrage, both at meetings, on a petition, and in writing.
missoula school watchdog would rather be doing many other things other than attempting to point out shenanigans within MCPS. It would be great if our school officials would cease to work against our children's best interests. Unfortunately, it is quite impossible to ignore the corruption, mismanagement, unfairness, disloyalty, and malfeasance.going on within MCPS.
Let's shine the light on MCPS together and root out the evildoers!
Again - Welcome to the missoula school watchdog blog!
The move to a slightly different blog name has more to do with technology than anything else. msw was unable to separate from a blog titled "missoula on ice" Therefore, all of the blog posts were posted with the "missoula on ice" name in addition to the "rattlesnake grandma" name.
There was a desire to have all posts with the same title as the blog, therefore, missoula schoolS watchdog was renamed missoula school (no s) watchdog.
missoula school watchdog apologizes for this change but felt that it was necessary.
Please feel free to browse both missoula schools watchdog blog as well as the new missoula school watchdog blog as there most likely will not be time to transfer many of the posts from missoula schools watchdog to the new blog.
Thank you very much to all the readers of both blogs for your understanding in this transition!
missoula school watchdog would like to encourage others to get on the web and tell us what YOU see going on in the missoula school system. MCPS needs hundreds of watchdogs that's for sure. As many Missoulians know there is MUCH to report!
Of course one doesn't exactly need a blog to voice their opinion. Thanks to all that are keeping an eye on the district for the student's sake and for the sake of the Missoula taxpayer. In February of this year when the district gave Superintendent Apostle a 13% raise hundrreds of Missoulians stepped up to the plate and expressed their outrage, both at meetings, on a petition, and in writing.
missoula school watchdog would rather be doing many other things other than attempting to point out shenanigans within MCPS. It would be great if our school officials would cease to work against our children's best interests. Unfortunately, it is quite impossible to ignore the corruption, mismanagement, unfairness, disloyalty, and malfeasance.going on within MCPS.
Let's shine the light on MCPS together and root out the evildoers!
Again - Welcome to the missoula school watchdog blog!
City’s proposal to buy PEAS Farm is a win for all
Click on the link below to read a guest editorial on selling valuable school land to Garden City Harvest (Peas Farm). This column was written by Martha Newell and was published in the June 23, 2013 edition of the Missoulian.
City’s proposal to buy PEAS Farm is a win for all
missoula schools watchdog, having witnessed firsthand in the last 10 years disastrous property decisions by the school district would like to say - THIS IS NOT A GOOD DEAL FOR MCPS AND IT'S BENEFICIARIES - MISSOULA'S PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN AND THE MISSOULA TAXPAYERS!!
It is more about entities like Garden City Harvest, and others before such as St. Joseph's School and the Missoula International School wanting cheap land at a prime location.
But first let's look at the players involved in this issue:
Let's start with Martha Newell, the author of the guest column. Newell is the wife(or partner) of former Missoula mayor Mke Kadas. The current mayor, John Engen, came before the school board at it's June meeting and stated four reasons why MCPS should sell the land to Garden City Harvest.
So we have the mayor connection.
Another connection of Newell's to keep in mind is that of former MCPS Board Chairwoman Toni Rehbein. Both Martha Newell and Toni Rehbein served on the Board of Missoula International School at the same time and in different years. It is absolutely clear that these two, Newell and Rehbein have had or still have a relationship due to their serving on the MIS Board.
Missoula International School is an International Baccalaureate Program school, IB for short. Rehbein and the school district, in addition to Superintendent Apostle have been heavily promoting the IB program and have successfully instituted it at Hellate High School. It would be interesting to know if the Kadas/Newell family have a son in the IB program at Hellgate. Even if none of her family was currently enrolled in the Hellgate IB program, Newell would most likely be happy and support the idea that there was a high school IB program so that MIS students could continue with their IB schooling.
It is msw's opinion that the reason the school district wants to sell any land it can get away with, is that it needs to raise funds for it's expensive IB program and other programs which have begun in the last couple of years in the Rehbein/Apostle era. In other words, instead of being frugal and responsible with the taxpayers money, they will recklessly start new programs without knowing from where the funding will come.
Missoula has lost so much of our school infrastructure, i.e. neighborhood schools, in the last few decades. It is time to put a stop to it for both our students who will fare better in their own neighborhoods and for the taxpayers. HINT: The School Board has talked about selling our present schools and BUILDING NEW SCHOOLS!! BEWARE OF MANY ON THIS SCHOOL BOARD AND THEIR NEFARIOUS WAYS. New School Board Trustees: please know that you dealing in a lot of politics that is going on behind the scenes.
More connections? Probably!!
City’s proposal to buy PEAS Farm is a win for all
missoula schools watchdog, having witnessed firsthand in the last 10 years disastrous property decisions by the school district would like to say - THIS IS NOT A GOOD DEAL FOR MCPS AND IT'S BENEFICIARIES - MISSOULA'S PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN AND THE MISSOULA TAXPAYERS!!
It is more about entities like Garden City Harvest, and others before such as St. Joseph's School and the Missoula International School wanting cheap land at a prime location.
But first let's look at the players involved in this issue:
Let's start with Martha Newell, the author of the guest column. Newell is the wife(or partner) of former Missoula mayor Mke Kadas. The current mayor, John Engen, came before the school board at it's June meeting and stated four reasons why MCPS should sell the land to Garden City Harvest.
So we have the mayor connection.
Another connection of Newell's to keep in mind is that of former MCPS Board Chairwoman Toni Rehbein. Both Martha Newell and Toni Rehbein served on the Board of Missoula International School at the same time and in different years. It is absolutely clear that these two, Newell and Rehbein have had or still have a relationship due to their serving on the MIS Board.
Missoula International School is an International Baccalaureate Program school, IB for short. Rehbein and the school district, in addition to Superintendent Apostle have been heavily promoting the IB program and have successfully instituted it at Hellate High School. It would be interesting to know if the Kadas/Newell family have a son in the IB program at Hellgate. Even if none of her family was currently enrolled in the Hellgate IB program, Newell would most likely be happy and support the idea that there was a high school IB program so that MIS students could continue with their IB schooling.
It is msw's opinion that the reason the school district wants to sell any land it can get away with, is that it needs to raise funds for it's expensive IB program and other programs which have begun in the last couple of years in the Rehbein/Apostle era. In other words, instead of being frugal and responsible with the taxpayers money, they will recklessly start new programs without knowing from where the funding will come.
Missoula has lost so much of our school infrastructure, i.e. neighborhood schools, in the last few decades. It is time to put a stop to it for both our students who will fare better in their own neighborhoods and for the taxpayers. HINT: The School Board has talked about selling our present schools and BUILDING NEW SCHOOLS!! BEWARE OF MANY ON THIS SCHOOL BOARD AND THEIR NEFARIOUS WAYS. New School Board Trustees: please know that you dealing in a lot of politics that is going on behind the scenes.
More connections? Probably!!
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Current MCPS Bulding Leases downloaded from website on the Facility Plan agenda meeting held today
This chart was included with the agenda on the mcpsmt.org website. There were other documents also listed which one could download.
missoula schools watchdog is particularly interested in the Rattlesnake properties as msw believes that we need to keep ALL of our properties in order to house ALL grades and to allow for any possibility of future needs for a school building. If we run out of classroom space - we will need to either build more classrooms OR bus our children out of the Rattlesnake. Busing any grade out of the Rattlesnake has always been an unpopular idea.
CURRENT MCPS BUILDING LEASES
missoula schools watchdog is particularly interested in the Rattlesnake properties as msw believes that we need to keep ALL of our properties in order to house ALL grades and to allow for any possibility of future needs for a school building. If we run out of classroom space - we will need to either build more classrooms OR bus our children out of the Rattlesnake. Busing any grade out of the Rattlesnake has always been an unpopular idea.
|
School
|
Total Sq. Ft.
|
Acres
|
Rent per Sq. Ft.
|
Monthly Lease Amount
|
Lease Term
|
Termination Notice/Renewal
|
Lessee
|
||||||||
|
Prescott
|
25,100
|
2.3
|
1.24
|
$3,333
|
8/1/2009 - 7/31/2012
|
Either party may terminate
with 90-day written notice. Lessee may terminate with 90-days written notice
at conclusion of years 2, 3, and 4 of the term of lease. Rent to increase
$5000 each ensuing year on Aug. 1st.
|
Missoula International Schools
|
||||||||
|
2.19
|
$4,583
|
8/1/2012 - 7/31/2013
|
Board approved 7/12/2011
|
||||||||||||
|
2.29
|
$4,792
|
8/1/2013 - 7/31/2014
|
"
|
||||||||||||
|
2.39
|
$5,000
|
8/1/2014 - 7/31/2015
|
"
|
||||||||||||
|
CPIU with 3% Cap
|
8/1/2015 - 7/31/2016
|
"
|
|||||||||||||
|
CPIU with 3% Cap
|
8/1/2016 - 7/31/2017
|
"
|
|||||||||||||
|
Mt. Jumbo
|
39,200*
|
5.3
|
2.25
|
$4,380
|
10/30/2005 - 10/30/2010
|
Lessee may renew for
additional five years subject to discretion of Board
|
Walla Walla University
|
||||||||
|
2.29
|
$4,748
|
10/30/2010 - 10/30/2015
|
Board approved 6/8/2010
|
||||||||||||
|
CPIU with 3% Cap
|
Yearly increase
|
||||||||||||||
|
* Walla Walla University
leases approx. 23,000 sq. ft. (59%) of Mt. Jumbo, and the remainder is used
by MCPS for storage
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Whittier
|
$1/year
|
8/1/2004 - 7/31/2014
|
Either party may terminate
with 90-day written notice.
|
Head Start
|
|||||||||||
|
Duncan Drive
|
1.32
|
$10 every 10 years
|
7/1/2000 - 6/30/2010
|
Either party may terminate
with 90-day written notice. Lessor must notify in writing 90-days prior to
June 30.
|
City of Missoula
|
||||||||||
|
Lowell Site
|
4.3
|
$1/year
|
9/1/1998 - 8/31/2008
|
Lessor may terminate with
30-day written notice.
|
Missoula City Parks and
Recreation
|
||||||||||
|
Westside Park - Ground Lease
|
$1/year
|
9/1/2004 - 8/31/2044
|
City requested amendement for
40 year extension due to addition of splash deck. Board approved 11/11/2003
|
||||||||||||
|
Lowell Site
|
Lessee may renew for
additional ten years subject to discretion of Board.
|
Partnership Health Center
|
|||||||||||||
|
Ground Lease
|
10,730
|
$1/year
|
12/3/2012 - 12/3/2032
|
Board approved 12/3/2012
|
|||||||||||
Thursday, June 13, 2013
City wants to buy PEAS Farm from MCPS for $1.2M
Click on the link below to read a Missoulian article written by Betsy Cohen reporting on the desire of the city of buy 13 acres on Duncan Drive in the Rattlesnake Valley in the June 11, 2013 edition.
City wants to buy PEAS Farm from MCPS for $1.2M
Another coup by an entity who is taking advantage of irresponsibile and disloyal MCPS Trustees
Waiting an hour for the public comment period at a Missoula County Public Schools Board Meeting and welcome to missoula SCHOOL watchdog!!
Hello Missoulians!
A little housekeeping -
This is a new blog which is being created by the same creator of missoula schools watchdog.
The two blog names are similar, however, the new blog name is without an "s" on school.
The missoula schools watchdog blog was linked to a blog titled, "missoula on ice".
The decision to separate from the later blog was due in part to have all information regarding the new blog sharing the identical name. In other words, all posts will be by "missoula school watchdog" rather than "missoula on ice".
Please go to missoula schools watchdog to read past posts as there is a lot of information that is still helpful in understanding some of what is going on in the Missoula County Public Schools school district.
Getting back to the title of this blog post. missoula schools watchdog's first post was about waiting for more than an hour to make a public comment and how out of line that was.
So, to add some continuity between the two blogs missoula school watchdog decided to start with the same topic.
msw, again, had to wait for an hour to make a three minute public comment (on a non-agenda item) just two days ago at the June 11, 2013 Board Meeting.
Two people spoke during the public comment period. The first person did speak for quite a bit longer than the three minute time limit that is usually in place. msw spoke next and may have gone slightly over the three minute time limit.
This was Joseph Knapp's first meeting as the Chairman of the MCPS School Board. msw hopes that Knapp will follow the public comment guidelines so that there is consistency in the time citizens take to speak before the Board. This way everyone is playing by the same rules.
Anyway, welcome to the misssoua school watchdog blog!
Let's get some common sense into Missoula County Public Schools business. Missoula's children, parents, and citizens have suffered enough due to corruption and shenanigans.
missoula school watchdog will continue in the general direction of it's predecessor, missoula schools watchdog, that is simply to point out what msw sees wrong in the MCPS school district - which is unfortunately a lot at this time.
If anyone sees things that Missoulians need to know about their schools msw would like to encourage you to join the blogosphere!! Missoula needs you!
Blogger is quite easy to use. We need many watchdogs to keep an eye on Missoula County Public Schools. Ruff, Ruff!
(See another post welcoming readers to missoula school watchdog blog on June 23, 2013.)
A little housekeeping -
This is a new blog which is being created by the same creator of missoula schools watchdog.
The two blog names are similar, however, the new blog name is without an "s" on school.
The missoula schools watchdog blog was linked to a blog titled, "missoula on ice".
The decision to separate from the later blog was due in part to have all information regarding the new blog sharing the identical name. In other words, all posts will be by "missoula school watchdog" rather than "missoula on ice".
Please go to missoula schools watchdog to read past posts as there is a lot of information that is still helpful in understanding some of what is going on in the Missoula County Public Schools school district.
Getting back to the title of this blog post. missoula schools watchdog's first post was about waiting for more than an hour to make a public comment and how out of line that was.
So, to add some continuity between the two blogs missoula school watchdog decided to start with the same topic.
msw, again, had to wait for an hour to make a three minute public comment (on a non-agenda item) just two days ago at the June 11, 2013 Board Meeting.
Two people spoke during the public comment period. The first person did speak for quite a bit longer than the three minute time limit that is usually in place. msw spoke next and may have gone slightly over the three minute time limit.
This was Joseph Knapp's first meeting as the Chairman of the MCPS School Board. msw hopes that Knapp will follow the public comment guidelines so that there is consistency in the time citizens take to speak before the Board. This way everyone is playing by the same rules.
Anyway, welcome to the misssoua school watchdog blog!
Let's get some common sense into Missoula County Public Schools business. Missoula's children, parents, and citizens have suffered enough due to corruption and shenanigans.
missoula school watchdog will continue in the general direction of it's predecessor, missoula schools watchdog, that is simply to point out what msw sees wrong in the MCPS school district - which is unfortunately a lot at this time.
If anyone sees things that Missoulians need to know about their schools msw would like to encourage you to join the blogosphere!! Missoula needs you!
Blogger is quite easy to use. We need many watchdogs to keep an eye on Missoula County Public Schools. Ruff, Ruff!
(See another post welcoming readers to missoula school watchdog blog on June 23, 2013.)
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