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School board extends leases for three nonprofits, approves rent increase to $8 per square foot
Summary
Missoula County Public Schools approved one-year lease extensions for Cancer Support Community Montana, Studio M and Friends of the Children and raised the elementary lease rate to $8 per square foot beginning August 2025 (an initially proposed second-year rise to $10 was removed). The vote was 4 in favor, 1 abstention among elementary trustees.
Missoula County Public Schools on Monday approved one-year extensions of facility leases for three community organizations and raised elementary lease rates to $8 per square foot beginning August 2025.
The board approved the elementary-only motion, as amended, 4–0 with one abstention. Trustees voted to renew leases for Cancer Support Community Montana, Studio M and Friends of the Children for one year and to set the rent at $8 per square foot in August 2025; an originally proposed second-year increase to $10 per square foot was removed from the motion.
The change affects organizations that currently occupy district-owned school space. Facilities director Burley McWilliams told trustees the district had increased rates from $3 to $5 per square foot in recent years, and recommended a phased approach to move closer to market while keeping longtime community partners in place.
Ben Davis, executive director of Friends of the Children, spoke during public comment and warned of the programmatic impact if rents rose further. “If you were to adopt the second year, it would be an 89% increase on our rent,” Davis said, adding that his nonprofit would face roughly $30,000 more per year under the previously proposed two-year increase and could be forced to serve fewer children or relocate.
Trustees and staff discussed several tradeoffs: district staff said lease revenue helps offset facility maintenance and unplanned repairs, and trustees noted the district’s real estate is a significant asset that must be stewarded. Trustee discussion included requests for more precise square-footage accounting and consideration of organizations’ community value when setting rates.
Trustees also noted the district will complete a comprehensive facilities study in December; administration recommended one-year agreements to await that study before setting longer-term lease policy.
The board’s action keeps the three tenants in place for a year at $8 per square foot starting August 2025, with the possibility of revisiting rates after the district’s facility study is complete.
