Show your Helena pride, vote for schools
August 22, 2025
Show your Helena pride, vote for schools Don’t do it. Please don’t mindlessly vote to reject these Helena Public School bonds again. Voting against school bonds becomes a habit — a bad habit. Communities that don’t invest in their children fail to thrive. The two proposed school bond issues seek to make long overdue improvements
Read MoreLeague of Women Voters support schools
August 19, 2025
League of Women Voters support schools At our 2025 State Convention, the League of Women Voters of the Helena Area voted, along with other Montana Leagues, to support a position “To promote efficient and equitable financing of public education, with the state funding its share of the cost, and to provide a high-quality public education,
Read MoreLetter to the editor: Time to fund Helena Schools adequately
August 19, 2025
Letter to the editor: Time to fund Helena Schools adequately Over past many decades, Helena taxpayers have funded school infrastructure less than every other similar school district in Montana except Billings, which holds the state record for underfunding schools. Deferred maintenance has consequences. For example, Helena High school, built 70 years ago, now has periodic
Read MoreStrong local schools, strong community, strong Montana
August 19, 2025
Strong local schools, strong community, strong Montana By John Cech, retired President of Carroll College Supporting education in our local communities isn’t just about investment in classrooms—it’s about investing in the foundation of our civic life and shared future. As Dan Kemmis, former mayor of Missoula and leading civic thinker in Montana, has reminded us,
Read MoreSchool bond is about an investment in Helena’s shared future
August 19, 2025
School bond is about an investment in Helena’s shared future By Steve Thennis, retired Helena High School Principal I spent my life in Helena Public Schools. My wife and I and our children are all products of our school system. Professionally, I served 32 years at Helena High School, most recently as Principal. Being around
Read More‘Outdated learning environments’: Helena district asks voters for $238M for aging schools
August 12, 2025
‘Outdated learning environments’: Helena district asks voters for $238M for aging schools By Sonny Tapia Editor’s Note: This story is the first in a three-part series regarding the upcoming school bond election on Sept. 9, with ballots set to be mailed Aug. 22. The Helena Public Schools board of trustees unanimously voted in June to present
Read MoreLetter to the editor: Vote yes on the school bond
August 12, 2025
Letter to the editor: Vote yes on the school bond My name is Jackson, and I am going into the eighth grade at Helena Middle School this year. Next year I will be going to Helena High School, and that is an interesting thought. After hearing about the fact that students of Helena High must
Read MorePass the Helena school bonds and leave a legacy to be proud of | Opinion
August 12, 2025
Pass the Helena school bonds and leave a legacy to be proud of | Opinion MONTANA ALLIANCE FOR RETIRED AMERICANSJAY REARDON, MOFFIE FUNK and AL EKBLAD We represent the Montana chapter of the Alliance for Retired Americans, a coalition of retired educators, construction workers, state and federal government workers, and community leaders. We exist to
Read More‘Vote yes!’: Over 100 supporters rally for upcoming Helena Public Schools bonds
August 5, 2025
‘Vote yes!’: Over 100 supporters rally for upcoming Helena Public Schools bonds Bearing signs and chanting, “The time is now,” over 100 people urged the public to vote in favor of a Helena Public Schools bond in a Monday street rally. “Vote yes!” attendees shouted on cue. Kids with campaign stickers across their chests held
Read MoreStop patching. Start building. It’s time to get real about Helena’s schools
August 5, 2025
Helena’s public schools are falling apart. While other AA school districts in Montana — Bozeman, Missoula, Kalispell — have stepped up and built modern schools, Helena is still relying on buildings that are literally crumbling. Helena High was built in 1955. Capital High in 1965. Kessler Elementary? 1936. On average, schools in the Helena School
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