Bryant | Bond Information

Posted on June 29, 2014

Elementary bond proposal is best way forward for school district

Helena IR Your Turn, by the Helena Board of Trustees

After years of community conversations and district analysis, the Helena School Board took an important first step this week in the long process of tackling pressing facility needs in our elementary schools. We trustees voted unanimously to present an elementary bond to voters this fall. If the bond passes, 41 percent of our K-5 students will learn in new or remodeled schools at Jim Darcy, Central and Warren by 2016. In addition, every K-8 student will have access to adequate technology by fall 2015.

School Board Could Vote on Bond This Week

A bond election for the Helena School District could be called as early as Wednesday when trustees hold another meeting to discuss and possibly vote on projects to be include in an elementary bond proposal.

CLOSETS FOR CLASSROOMS Community members tour schools in need of renovation

Around a dozen people stepped onto a magic school bus of sorts Tuesday, but instead of traveling to the ocean floor or inside the human body, they toured the “underside” of Helena’s aging schools.

The tour of Bryant, Hawthorne, Kessler Elementary and Helena Middle School was the first of a pair of visits offered this week by the Helena School District as it nears a decision on which construction projects to be included in a K-8 bond proposal.

Riders saw closets that have been converted into classrooms, walked up a ramp to nowhere, navigated mazelike basements and heard stories from principals about day-to-day challenges of working in buildings that were designed two generations ago.

Pair of facility tours to give residents first-hand view of Helena schools

Residents interested in the future of Helena schools will soon have a chance to view the state of district facilities first-hand, as the district announced Tuesday that it will host a pair of public bus tours and guided walk-throughs of four schools next week.

“The objective of the tour is really to illustrate the status of our schools and where some of the greatest needs exist for resources,” school board Trustee Aidan Myhre said.

The first tour will depart from May Butler Center, 55 South Rodney St., on Tuesday, June 17 at 5:30 p.m. Another tour is scheduled for Thursday, June 19 at 8 a.m., also leaving from May Butler Center.

Attendees will be shuttled on a district yellow school bus to visit Hawthorne Elementary, Bryant Elementary, Kessler Elementary and Helena Middle School, Superintendent Kent Kultgen said. The tours will last two hours.

Learn more about the tours at the Helena IR.

To join a tour check here or call the Superintendent’s Office at: 324-2001 .

Posted on June 10, 2014

Supporters rally around Bryant school

bout 30 parents, students and other Helena residents rallied Monday afternoon to let the public know they think Bryant Elementary should remain open. “This is a small, neighborhood school, and we love it,” said parent Tiffany Romano, who organized the rally.

Their school on the chopping block, Bryant Elementary staff stay focused on what they do best

The three kindergarten teachers at Bryant Elementary sit in the library one morning in April, looking at data for the students they refer to as “heavy hitters.”

Some of their 5-year-olds have racked up an alarming number of absences. “We have some in the 20s since February,” says Principal Nick Radley, who facilitates these meetings.