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