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 such talented students was a gift that truly cannot be put into words. I am forever grateful to the educators who invested in my family’s education and to the community that supported us because of their investment in our public schools.
Early in my career at Helena High School, I was fortunate to be on staff when Helenans passed the last high school bond 28 years ago. As a teacher I was blessed with the addition of up-to-date science facilities. The newer facility upgrade was without question an asset in delivering the best instruction to our students and providing opportunity for academic achievement. The update was long overdue as teachers had taught science lessons in rooms without adequate power, running water, and gas outlets. Teachers and their students deserved better, and our community answered the call.
While that addition was a boost, the rest of the infrastructure at Helena High continued to deteriorate. In all the ways teachers and students benefitted from the addition of modern (at the time) science classrooms, the rest of the school felt – and continues to feel – the impact of a facility that can’t meet the moment.
Ill-equipped school buildings impact student achievement and classroom instruction. I lost count of the number of times we had to close or cancel classes due to failures of heating, plumbing or electrical. The stories that students bring home about insects, mice, pack-rats, ants, leaks, the occasional squirrel are, sadly, all true. Recently, a current student shared the story of how her and her friends refer to different hallways in the building based on their smell. Helena kids deserve better.
The quality of our facilities don’t just impact the classroom experience. My administrative career allowed me to work collaboratively across the state with many talented administrators. One of my favorite summer events was the yearly AA Principals conference. Each summer, one of the notable agenda items was the tour of an extensive renovation or entire new school building. I watched the excitement, and the great sense of pride administrators had when they showed us the new upgraded spaces, and the potential it held for their students’ achievement. Reality was, there were no such tours for Helena’s high schools.
I remember standing in front of an opposing coach and her team after a tough volleyball playoff loss to Helena High School to explain that there was only a working showerhead in the locker room. They turned and boarded the bus. Another time, an administrator from another Montana AA district told me “Steve, nobody looks forward to competing in Helena” followed by a chorus of laughter from the rest of the group. Not very prideful moments.
This bond is not simply about bricks and mortar. This bond is about an investment in our shared future. Despite our facilities, our students have accomplished exceptional academic and athletic achievements because of our talented and dedicated teaching staff. Just imagine what they could achieve if they had access to safe, secure, and modern facilities.
Like the generations that came before us, it’s time to make a new investment in our future by ensuring our students have buildings to learn in that reflect their worth and potential. Just as the yard-signs around the community say, “The Time Is Now.”
Vote yes on both the Helena high school and elementary school bonds.
Steve Thennis is a former principal at Helena High School.