Board extends interlocal agreement with City of Missoula for Lowell community programs for one year

The Missoula County Public Schools Board of Trustees on May 27 approved a one‑year renewal of the interlocal agreement with the City of Missoula Parks Department to operate community‑based programming at Lowell School while district and city staff negotiate specific contract changes.

District staff said the original agreement was a five‑year contract with five‑year renewals and that the recommended one‑year extension would give both parties time to draft and consider modifications. "We met with the parks folks last week, and what we decided would be the best course of action was to request a year extension," a district presenter told trustees, adding the arrangement brings programming staff and services into the building that benefit Northside and Westside neighborhoods.

Trustees asked whether the agreement covered just the playground or the whole building; the presenter clarified the agreement relates to the school operation rather than the standalone Westside Park agreement. Trustee Hayes raised safety questions about cameras and security when community programs use district facilities; trustees said the district is discussing camera placement with operations and city SROs. Trustee Witcher, speaking off the trustee hat, described the partnership as one that brings roughly $300,000 in "soft funding and hard funding" from the city's parks fund to offer reduced after‑school programming and on‑site staff.

The elementary‑board motion to renew for one year passed with one abstention: Trustee Witcher abstained. District staff said the short extension is intentional to allow negotiation of longer‑term modifications.

Ending: With the one‑year extension approved, staff will continue work with the City of Missoula to draft modifications for a longer renewal; trustees emphasized safety discussions about cameras and supervision will continue during the extension period.