February 2010

First, I want to thank all of you for being so understanding about our facilities problems.   To bring those of you up to speed of our difficulties, here’s what happened.  On January 11, we were evacuated and the building was closed, because of a contamination from the sewer.   The City of Helena was relining its main sewers and the toxic fumes from the work came up in our building as well as other buildings in downtown Helena.  Cleaning crews came in and fogged the building with something that smelled like bubble gum and didn’t totally get rid of the smell.  Anyway, the city said we could work in our office after the cleaning, so with windows open and teeth chattering, we went back to work.

Then on January 22^nd there was a fire in the building basement and first floor.  The smoke was very bad and coated everything.  We took what we could and moved to an office across town on loan to us from Bob Anderson, friend and former boss at MTSBA and OPI.  Finally, last Thursday, after the ceiling, walls and carpets were cleaned we came back ‘home’.  The window shades still have to be cleaned as well as the pictures on the walls and our books, papers and cupboards.  We are getting back to normal and except for a sinus infection everything is fine.  If you do get things from us they may still smell smoky for a little while longer.

We love our old building, the Power Block, and are thankful that we didn’t lose it and all of our files.  We have been busy cleaning which is a good thing and we will soon have the cleanest building in Montana.

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The first of this month, I went to Washington, D.C, missed getting snowbound, but had good meetings with our Congressional delegation, U.S. Department of Education officials and staff of key Congressional committees.  All our delegation have now signed on to the reauthorization of REAP and they understand that the Department of Education does not understand rural and small.  They are working to enlighten them.  These meetings were set up by the National Rural Education Advocacy Coalition and all of us felt they were most worthwhile.

On one other note, I believe that with the efforts of our work, MTSBA and MREA we have had an effect on OPI and their plans to consider school consolidation for the next legislature.  We must remember that this specter is always there and be prepared for it.  The Board of MSSA reiterated its stance on School Consolidation and it is that we are opposed to any form of forced consolidation.

 Hope you are all wintering well.