School board authorizes quiet-title filing to clear ownership of four Prescott parcels

Missoula County Public Schools trustees authorized district attorneys to file a quiet-title action to confirm ownership of four parcels that underlie part of Prescott School.

The legal action, approved by the elementary trustees, was requested after district staff found a 1938 deed that lists the Prescott PTA as the recorded owner of the four lots. Superintendent Pat McHugh told the board the PTA appears to be a defunct entity and that a portion of the school building sits on the parcels, making the question of title consequential for facilities work.

"We're asking the board to authorize our attorneys to file a quiet title action on our behalf," McHugh said. He described the purpose as "an action to perfect title," noting that historical records show the transfer to the PTA but give no current address or contact for the organization.

Trustee Mercer moved to authorize the filing; Trustee Witt seconded. The motion was approved by all elementary trustees present. The board did not record a roll-call tally in the public discussion; the meeting record states only that the item was "approved by all elementary trustees present." The district's attorneys will be responsible for providing court notice and pursuing the court order confirming title; no timeline for the court process was given.

Board materials indicate the district will continue archival research into 1930s minutes and other records as attorneys prepare the case. McHugh said the attorneys expect providing notice to be an "interesting process" given the limited historical contact information in the deed record.

The authorization applies only to this elementary-school property transaction; trustees noted the action is limited to the specific parcels tied to Prescott School.