Missoula School Board fills trustee vacancy, receives facilities update

MISSOULA, Mont. — The Missoula County Public Schools Board of Trustees voted unanimously Tuesday night to appoint London Meservy to a vacant trustee seat previously held by former Chairwoman Wilena Old Person.

Board Chairwoman Arlee Walker Andrews said this comes during a period of high turnover for the board, which she said has seen a rotation of 19 different faces over the past two years.

Meservy, a parent of four students across the district, will be sworn in Friday and hold the seat until the May election. He told the board he plans to run for the position in the spring.

“I was sad to see the former chairperson go but excited for the opportunity,” Meservy said. “I want to help continue the upward trajectory of the Missoula School District.”

The board also heard an update from the Facilities Planning Committee, part of an ongoing review of district-owned properties. The committee’s work builds on months of public engagement that included building tours, surveys and meetings with more than 200 community members and partners such as the City of Missoula and the University of Montana.

Trustee Jenny Walsh said the district’s goal is to manage its facilities responsibly without overburdening taxpayers.

“What we’re really doing is reorganizing our public assets to steward them better for the public. We’re not giving up any public assets,” she said. “I think there’s a bit of public perception that we’re like after money, but really we’re just trying to be really responsible stewards for our taxpayers, which are our teachers and our parents and our families.”

Superintendent Micah Hill clarified that any proceeds from property sales would go into district funds with flexible spending authority. Those dollars are free to be expended in any way the board sees fit, he said.

The next MCPS board meeting is on January 27.