Letter to the editor: Learning spaces that match our kids’ potential

As a former principal of Jim Darcy School and a parent myself, I know how much it matters where our kids go to school.

They deserve learning spaces that match their potential — safe, bright, and built for the future. That’s what we got when voters passed the 2017 bond that gave us new buildings for Jim Darcy, Bryant, and Central.

Now it’s time to look ahead. The proposed Helena schools bonds will create a new Helena High, a remodeled Capital High, a new Kessler Elementary, and a dedicated space for PAL students. These are real, urgent needs, and they affect every family in our school district.

I especially want to highlight the upgrades to career and technical education spaces. Whether your child wants to enter the trades, health care, or tech, they’ll get hands-on training in modern classrooms right here in Helena. That’s a future you can feel good about sending your child or grandchild toward.

In 2017, we voted as one community, not divided by city lines or ZIP codes. I believe we can do that again.

Please join me in supporting this bond. Learn more at YESForHelenaSchools.com. Ballots must be returned by Sept. 9.

Brian Cummings, retired teacher, administrator and assistant superintendent,

Helena

Published in the Helena IR on August 5, 2025

Letter to the editor: Supporting our schools and students is a longterm investment

Our community is coming to understand the critical state of Kessler School, Helena High and Capital High.

Many know that at nearly 100 years old, Kessler has deteriorating infrastructure, cramped hallways, tiny classrooms and accessibility and safety concerns.

Helena High’s situation is even worse: a mostly wood building with a 1950s infrastructure. Cosmetic improvements over the years have only superficially covered a litany of woes, leaving one remaining boiler on the brink of failure and threatening to force split shifts at Capital for all high school students. Even Capital itself, almost as old, is in dire need of infrastructure upgrades to almost everything, including safety and accessibility.

Our students and staff deserve better. The need is overwhelmingly clear.

One important clarification: there is a critical difference between a levy and a bond. Both are dependent on voter approval, but a “Levy is for learning and a bond is for building.”

We haven’t passed a high school bond in 28 years. Helena is woefully behind in updating our buildings, lagging far behind not only other AAs but also every nearby district with the exception of Butte.

This is the time. We must act now before costs increase even further. Supporting our schools and our children is a long-term investment in our community.

As a father, grandfather, former school district administrator and a taxpayer, I urge you to vote for these bonds.

To vote for all of us.

Joe Furshong,

Helena

Published in the Helena IR on August 5, 2025

Letter to the editor: Act now to keep our children safe

Do we need to wait until disaster strikes before we act?

Our schools were built in a very different time. Today the children have safe school drills. We cannot keep our children safe in some of the schools. For example, there is no way to monitor all the entrances at Helena High School.

My husband Jack and I had four sons graduate from Helena High School. All received a great quality education and are now good contributing citizens. I am watching our grandchildren do the same

We are so fortunate at the opportunities the Helena Schools provide. We need to act now to keep our children safe.

Penny Copps,

Helena

Published in the Helena IR on August 5, 2025

School bond supporters rally outside Helena High School

HELENA — It’s just over a month until Helena voters will decide whether they’re willing to support raising their property taxes to fund major improvement to three local schools.

On Monday morning, about 100 people gathered outside Helena High School, as Yes! for Helena Schools – the committee backing two proposed bond measures – held a rally.

“The time is now, vote yes!” those in attendance chanted.

In June, the Helena Public Schools board of trustees voted to put more than $280 million in bond issues before voters in a Sept. 9 election. They would pay for fully rebuilding Helena High and Kessler Elementary School and significantly renovating Capital High School.

Supporters said these current buildings are outdated, inadequate and under strain.

“Our school from roof to foundation is literally falling apart,” said Lauren Gustafson, a social studies teacher at Helena High. “It is time to ask ourselves what are we willing to do to give our students the learning environment that they deserve.”

Voters will start receiving their ballots in the mail later this month. They will consider the two bond issues separately – one for the elementary school district and one for the high school district, which also includes Wolf Creek and Canyon Creek.

The high school bond is much larger, and would increase property taxes by an estimated $220 a year on a $300,000 home. The elementary school bond would raise taxes by about $39 a year on a $300,000 home.

Ballots must be returned to the Lewis and Clark County elections office by 8 p.m. on Sept. 9.

As the election approaches, stay with MTN News for much more on the bond proposals.

Posted on KTVH.com on August 4, 2025

Letter to the editor: Vote yes for both school bonds

Helena has fallen behind other Montana communities that have passed school bonds in recent years to build beautiful, safe, state-of-the-art high schools.

One example is the new Flathead High School, built by a bond that passed overwhelmingly and features modern learning spaces that educate students for the 21st century.

Meanwhile, students at Helena High suffer in cold classrooms, eating lunch on the floor, and dealing with rats and bugs infesting their learning spaces. When, not if, the nearly 70-year-old boiler fails, those students will have to split shifts with students at Capital.

We have to do better for our kids.

Both of my daughters graduated from Helena schools, and I currently have four grandsons at Kessler, PAL and Capital High.

Each of these schools will be rebuilt or receive significant safety upgrades if these bonds pass. Conditions in each facility, along with Helena High, are deteriorating and are detrimental to learning. We love our community, but we need schools we can be proud of and schools that demonstrate to students they are valued.

Let’s give the next generation of Helena students the safe, secure, and modern school facilities they need to succeed. Join me in voting YES on Sept. 9 for both Helena Schools bonds.

Ellen Feaver,

Helena

Published in the Helena IR July 29, 2025