Stop patching. Start building. It’s time to get real about Helena’s schools
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 District are 70 years old. These buildings were designed for a different era and no longer meet the needs of today’s students. They weren’t built for modern technology, current safety codes, or basic accessibility. Despite repeated repairs and temporary fixes, some of these facilities are no longer sustainable. Between the two high schools, Helena and Capital High, there is about $51 million of deferred maintenance.
- Helena High School has the most issues: the steam heating system, encased in asbestos-laden concrete, barely functions. Classrooms regularly flood during heavy rain. Mice infest the walls. Silverfish line the floors. It’s revolting to imagine students spending over seven hours a day in these conditions. Some rooms are overheated, others freezing — learning environments that shouldn’t be tolerated in any professional workplace, let alone a school.
- Capital High School needs extensive renovations to bring its interior into the 21st century, creating learning environments that meet modern standards for safety, accessibility, and technology.
- Kessler is nearly 100 years old. Enough said.
Even with all this, our students and teachers are still performing above average. But how long can they keep that up in buildings that are falling apart around them?
If the boiler at Helena High gives out — and it’s close — 1,200 kids will have nowhere to go. Capital High is already packed. Cramming students in would blow up class sizes, overwhelm teachers, and throw the whole district into chaos. Transportation, sports, activities — everything takes a hit.
This isn’t a drill. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.
This fall, voters will be asked to approve two school bonds:
- A high school bond to build a new Helena High and update Capital High
- An elementary bond to build a new Kessler Elementary
This isn’t about making things “nice.” It’s about making things work. Right now, we’re spending millions just to keep broken systems barely functioning. That’s money wasted on buying time we no longer have.
Approving these bonds means:
- Lower construction costs locked in before inflation gets worse
- Safe, modern schools for our kids
- No more band-aids on broken buildings
This is a turning point. We either invest now, or we pay more later — in dollars, in learning, and in lost opportunity.
As a proud member of Helena High’s Class of 2023 — valedictorian, student-athlete, and active participant in music and student leadership — I know firsthand that our schools are more than just places to learn. They’re spaces where students grow, connect, and find opportunities that shape their futures.
The experiences I had in those halls has helped shape who I am today. But even then, it was clear the buildings were aging fast. Classrooms weren’t equipped for modern learning, and basic infrastructure is struggling to keep up with the needs of students and staff. I can only imagine how much more difficult it must be now.
Investing in our schools isn’t just about fixing buildings, it’s about giving the next generation the better chances and more opportunities to thrive, lead, and succeed.
Let’s stop patching. Let’s start building.
Our students deserve better — now, not someday.
Kalley May