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6/16/2025
“Helena This Week” is reported and written By JoVonne Wagner. Send your Helena news and tips to [email protected].
Officials say bonds are needed to replace two schools, renovate another
The Helena Public Schools District has officially approved plans to ask taxpayers this fall to fund replacing and renovating some of its aging school buildings.
The school board of trustees voted to proceed with bond requests totaling $283 million during last week’s board meeting.
School Superintendent Rex Weltz advocated for the bonds based on the district’s master facilities plan and $100 million in deferred maintenance needs throughout the district. The bonds would specifically pay for the replacement of Helena High School and Kessler Elementary School and the renovation of Capital High School.
“I have to talk about ‘Today is not the right time.’” I hear that a lot, it’s not the right time, it really is never the right time,” Weltz said during the meeting. “But if we wait much longer, we’re just increasing the inflationary increases, which is gonna negatively impact our community.”
The district requested a $43 million bond for the replacement of Kessler Elementary, 2420 Choteau St., that is estimated to be paid off in 20 years. If passed, residents with homes valued at $300,000 would see about a yearly $40 tax increase, while property owners with homes valued at $600,000 would pay about $91 more annually.
Kessler, built in 1936, ranked poorly in fire suppression, safety and security and electrical systems, according to the facility plan.
Separately, the $240 million bond requested for upgrades to Capital High and new construction for Helena High is estimated to be paid off in 30 years. Residents with homes valued at $300,000 would see a yearly tax increase of about $220, and property owners with homes valued at $600,000 would pay about $506 more annually.
While Capital High needs to address major maintenance issues, Helena High’s condition is nearing unusable, according to school officials. It has a failing boiler system, a sinking foundation, failing electrical systems and bug infestations.
Helena High School Trustee Student Representative Brock Gardipee emphasized the urgency of addressing Helena High’s current condition and how it impacts students.
“It feels like our community has let us down, and we should not be embarrassed of our school,” Gardipee said during the meeting.“We’re losing numbers, and the schools around us are getting improvements like Jefferson and East Helena. We need those improvements to bring students into our school and stop them from trying to go somewhere else.”
If taxpayers approve the bonds, which will be on the Sept. 9 ballot, district officials estimate that new school facilities will be open by August of 2028.
Public Notice
Pride flag discussion: City of Helena deputy attorney Matthew Petesch will report to the commission on the official city procedure for adopting the Pride flag after city commissioner Melinda Reed inquired about the process during a meeting last week. Petesch said the city has no code related to flag adoption and would need to research its legality before any action can take place. The meeting will be held on Monday, June 16, at the City-County Building, 316 N. Park Ave., at 6 p.m.
Asphalt repairs: The city will repair the asphalt on several streets on Monday, June 16, and Tuesday, June 17, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. While the streets will remain open, flaggers will be present to help move traffic, and street parking will be restricted. The impacted areas include:
- North Park Ave. from West Lyndale Ave. to Stuart St.
- Kessler St. from West Lyndale Ave. to Hauser Blvd.
- Getchell St. from West Lyndale Ave. to Neill Ave
- Hauser Blvd. from North Benton Ave. to Kessler St.
- Stuart St. from North Benton Ave. to Kessler St.
- West 14th St. from Kessler St. to Front St.
- Great Northern Blvd. from West 14th St. south to Shootly Way.
Visit the city’s public works website for additional information.
5 Things to Know in Helena
Roundabout or a less expensive solution? During a city meeting last week, city transportation director David Knoepke updated the commission on the progress of the proposed roundabout for the downtown five-point intersection. The check-in included a recent mockup of what the roundabout will look like, along with pedestrian crossing safety details. However, Commissioner Sean Logan again suggested keeping the intersection as is with some pedestrian safety upgrades rather than moving forward with the roundabout project, which he said is estimated to cost between $2.5 million and $3.5 million.
“ The cost of the stop-sign controlled intersection is significantly less than that,” Logan said. “So understanding as we do as elected officials, there’s great need all over the place. Lots of need, limited financial resources. So from my perspective, I think the money would be better spent elsewhere.”
Commissioner Reed agreed with Logan, along with several members of the public who voiced similar reasons not to move forward with the roundabout, citing improved pedestrian safety and issues with the location. The commission then asked Knoepke to contact the Montana Department of Transportation to add input on the suggested changes.
City golf course utilizes NWE grant: City staff requested $50,000 in city energy funds to help complete the installation of solar panels at the Bill Roberts Golf Course. The commission approved using the money NorthWestern Energy gave the city last year for sustainability projects. The city will save about $10,350 annually in energy costs from the project.
Fire Station 3 update: City finance director Shiela Danielson presented a report to the commission on a $7 million general obligation bond for the construction of the new fire station that voters approved last June. In addition to the presentation, representatives with Dowling Architecture shared preliminary designs that include a three-fire engine bays and an on-site training facility.
Broadway stormwater project: The city is preparing to install a new storm drain system near the intersection of East Broadway and Stabern Street. The project also includes the possible removal of several mature trees, asphalt and resurfacing and replacement of the surrounding curb and gutter. The city held a public meeting last week to gather feedback, with members of the city engineering division and Helena Citizens Council in attendance.
Helena celebrates Juneteenth: The Montana Historical Society, in partnership with the city of Helena, The Myrna Loy, Holter Museum of Art and Alive at Five, will host several Juneteenth events on Wednesday, June 18, and Thursday, June 19. Events include live music from Ronnie and the Redwoods on Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. at Lewis and Clark Brewing Co. On Thursday, there will be train tours available with a focus on Black history, spoken-word performances and a barbecue at the Myrna Loy and county courthouse lawn. Visit the MHS website for additional information about all planned events.
3 Questions For
Valerie Hellermann is the executive director for Hands On Global and the Helena Area Refugee Resettlement Team, an organization that focuses on helping refugee families adjust to living in Helena. As of January, the refugee resettlement program lost its government funding to aid asylum seekers. Now the team, primarily made up of local volunteers, is facing challenges as it recently accepted a new family earlier this month. Hellermann spoke with MTFP on HARRT’s mission. Her comments have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
MTFP: How does the Helena refugee resettlement team accept refugees?
Hellermann: The refugee resettlement program was completely halted by this new administration in January, which is where we previously were working with the International Rescue Committee, bringing refugees into Helena. All funding was stopped for that, and there were no refugees coming into that program. We connected with a veteran’s nonprofit called No One Left Behind. And that is a group that is bringing SIVs, which are special immigration visa holders, to the U.S. Special immigration visa folks are those who had worked in some capacity with the U.S. government in the Afghan theater and were promised protection by the U.S. government.
There are like 10,000 of them waiting to come to the U.S. or more than that, even. That was the latest number I heard. We were able to bring in six families, and now we’re at capacity because we don’t get any funding from the refugee resettlement program. We had some funding, and the refugees were given some money to start, not a whole lot, but this program is nothing. We just take them because it’s the right thing to do.
MTFP: Can you explain how the resettlement team helps families get established once they arrive in Helena?
Hellermann: When the family arrives, our team, prior to their arrival, secures an apartment for them. We pay the security deposit and usually the first two months’ rent and furnish it with a lot of community support and donations of furniture and whatnot. So then we meet the family at the airport, and then the next day we start our orientation.
We go over their health records, and we register the children for school. If there’s any medical problem, we’ll have them seen as quickly as possible. We then take them to the Office of Public Assistance to get onto SNAP food benefits. We’ll take them to food share, to get food and sign up for a food program. Then we often will have to take them to the Social Security office because we have to get Social Security cards, and in the meantime, we are looking for jobs for them based on their skills.
We give them a thousand dollars, just to have money in their pocket, and that money is for whatever they need, because they arrive with very few possessions. We pay the first two months’ rent and a security deposit, which is about $2,100. It costs, I would say, $3,000 to $3,500 to get a family started.
MTFP: What about this program and providing refugees with asylum is impactful or significant for the Helena community? How can people help HARRT?
Hellermann: Afghan refugees who are SIV holders who had worked for the U.S. government are targeted by the Taliban, and for many, it would be a death sentence to return to Afghanistan. So, saving a life is really a powerful thing. We’re happy to do that. We live in a global community these days. I’ve spent years working in refugee camps, and I can tell you that it often felt hopeless. One of the things that is so important to me about working for refugee resettlement here in Helena is that I hope I see people able to start their lives again; it’s just so important.
Donations are great, or they can go on to the Hands On Global webpage and donate.
Verbatim
“ Shame on all of you for even considering the closure of a beloved elementary school, and not even one of you have the decency to come and see our amazing students and staff at work, making beautiful things happen every day. Shame on all of you. You should not have any authority if you are too much of a coward to face your decision. I promise that I will not let our town ever forget that you are the board that forever changed the fabric of our community.”
— Kristie Klein, a staff member and parent of a Hawthorne Elementary student, during last week’s school board meeting before trustees voted to close the school. Hawthorne was one of the district’s oldest facilities, with an enrollment of about 180 students. The superintendent recommended shutting down operations to address the district’s ongoing struggle to balance its budget.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
City to put $5.3 levy before voters this spring
PLUS: Commission taking another look at Homeland grant.
