Helena school leaders outline $147 million-plus bond to replace aging high schools and CTE facilities

Helena school district officials told the City of Helena commission on Aug. 13 that they plan to ask voters to approve a multimillion-dollar bond to rebuild Helena High, Kessler and Capitol High and upgrade career and technical education facilities.

The district presented facility assessments and a bond proposal that officials said would address what they described as a backlog of deferred maintenance and safety upgrades that exceed what routine budgets can cover. Todd Merrill, facilities director for the Helena School District, said the district's total deferred maintenance is about $100 million to $110 million; the three high-school projects alone represent roughly $53 million of that total, he said, with about $30 million at Helena High, $20 million at Capitol High and $3 million at Kessler.

Superintendent Josh McKay and other district leaders said rebuilding on existing campuses is the preferred approach so students can remain in school during phased construction. McKay said Helena High's steam boilers and underground terminal systems are nearing end of life and that piecemeal repairs would not resolve systemic problems: "No matter what, we're walking into this...a split shift scenario is almost unavoidable" if the district delays larger work, he said.

Why it matters: District leaders and business and civic partners told commissioners that failing to act would force difficult operating choices'including split school days that would disrupt students'schedules, after-school work and local employers who hire teens. Callie Asham, president and CEO of the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce, said local employers told the chamber that school facilities influence recruiting decisions for professionals and families.

The bond ask and scope: Presenters described an on-site rebuild of Helena High that would also consolidate Powell High facilities on the Helena High campus, an on-site rebuild of Kessler and major upgrades at Capitol High. The presentation listed needs including larger kitchens (the district currently prepares meals at a single undersized district kitchen), improved safety/security to connect scattered CTE buildings to main campuses, updated athletics and additional gym space and modernized CTE lab space for programs such as CNC, welding and health-care training. The district said current construction-cost estimates per square foot are high across the region and that delaying construction will increase future costs.

Financial context and timing: The district provided multiple figures during the presentation: Merrill said the district's deferred maintenance bill is roughly $100 million to $110 million; later in the presentation the administration referred to a corrected districtwide deferred maintenance number of $147,100,000. District staff said they currently have roughly $4.5 million annually to address maintenance needs and that bonds are the primary mechanism to tackle large-scale capital and deferred-maintenance projects.

Community reaction and endorsements: Trustees, business groups and civic organizations participating in the meeting emphasized urgency. Janet Armstrong, a member of the district board of trustees, described classrooms with water damage, infestations and inadequate heating and ventilation as part of the case for replacement. The Helena Area Chamber and the local League of Women Voters reported outreach efforts and public support; the League's local observer told commissioners the organization "strongly supports the bond issue." Public commenters and business leaders said modern school facilities support workforce recruitment and retention.

Next steps: District staff said the presentation to the city was informational only and that trustees will decide whether and when to place a bond measure before voters. No formal vote or bond authorization occurred during the Aug. 13 administrative meeting. District officials offered to return to the commission to answer additional questions and noted tour opportunities for commissioners and the public.

Ending: District officials and community partners urged commissioners to consider the long-term effects of deferred maintenance on student safety, instructional programs and the local economy and encouraged voters to review the district's fact sheet and planned building tours before the trustees finalize any ballot measure.