Helena Public Schools > A Grateful Update from Superintendent Weltz | November 26, 2025
A Grateful Update from Superintendent Weltz | November 26, 2025

Dear Families, Staff, and the Helena Community,

I want to take a moment to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and I encourage you to reflect on what you are grateful for over the break. My list is pretty big, but I look forward to thinking about all that has happened this year already.

Please remember that the holidays can be a hard time for people, so make sure not to take anything for granted and help where you can.

We’ll see you next week!

Gratefully,

Rex Weltz, Superintendent

Helena Public Schools

 

Bonds Projects Updates

Recap:

Bonds: The $31.5 million Helena ESD and $130.0 million Helena HSD that were advertised in the Independent Record and on our website, sold within 30 minutes of their offering (in $5,000 increments) last week through D.A. Davidson on November 20, 2025. Yields to investors ranged from 2.64% in 2028 to 4.54% in the final maturity in 2056.

The true interest cost rates on the 2025 Bond issues were favorable at 4.18% and 4.41%, respectively, which are lower than the 4.75% and 4.95% projected rates used for the taxpayer impact estimates at the time of the elections. The savings in interest costs (at 57% of the Bonds having been issued) was about $9.9 million.

After issuance of the 2025 Bonds, the Districts will have remaining unissued bond authorization up to $11,500,000 in the Elementary District and $110,000,000 in the HS District pending budget considerations for the building projects once final costs are known. The remaining Bonds are forecasted to be next issued in 2027 and 2028.

HHS + Project for Alternative Learning (PAL) Project: Week 5 (11/23-11/29)

  • PAL Building Committee Meeting
  • PAL & HHS Area Model Review with District Administration
  • Offices Closed for Thanksgiving & Black Friday
CHS Project: Week 3 (11/23-11/29)
  • Capital High School existing background floorplans, elevations will be set up for the first DAG meeting
  • Design Advisory Group (DAG) prep continues for meeting #1 to be held December 2, 2025
  • Offices Closed for Thanksgiving & Black Friday
Kessler Project: Week 1 (11/23-11/29)
  • Mosaic/Cushing Terrell Introductions, Tours, and Conversations with Kessler staff at Kessler
  • Planning Meetings – More to come

 

Up Next:

HHS + Project for Alternative Learning (PAL) Project: Week 6 (11/30-12/06)
CHS Project: Week 4 (11/30-12/06)
Kessler Project: Week 2 (11/30-12/06)

Stay tuned for these updates to come early next week!

 

If you have questions or want to chat about the choice and what’s next, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us!

Keep up-to-date on the bonds projects as we enter into each
phase of the processes:

VISIT SITE

 

COMMUNITY CORNER

  • HPS THREE WAYS TO DONATE – partnership with Helena Food Share
    1. Community food pantries at each HPS school, in partnership with Helena Food Share
    2. Helena Food Share – food, money, volunteers
    3. HPS RevTrak Donations
  • RUNNING RESOURCE LIST ON OUR WEBPAGE
    • Resources for federal employees and military family affected by the government shutdown (and after)
    • Free and Reduced Lunch Program
    • Helena Area community resources
  • HPS SCHOOLS’ FOOD DRIVES AND OTHER RELATED EVENT LISTINGS (also listed on WEBPAGE)
  • CONTACT CENTER FOR QUESTIONS AND TO GET CONNECTED (WEBPAGE)

VIEW PAGE

 

DID YOU KNOW?

Capital High School and Jefferson Elementary are on social media now! Be sure to like and follow to stay up to date on all the exciting things: 

DOWNLOAD THE FORM AND DONATE TODAY

 

SLIPS, TRIPS, AND FALLS REMINDER

WHAT’S COMING UP THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT?
November 29 – December 13, 2025

Saturday, November 29:
Sunday, November 30:
Monday, December 1:

  • 4th and 5th grades to Nutcracker on the Rocks – Civic Center
  • PAL Info Night, 4:00 p.m. – PAL Commons

Tuesday, December 2:

  • BOT Policy Committee Meeting, 12:00 p.m. – LC
  • Frosh Orchestra Concert, 6:00 p.m. – CHS Auditorium
  • CHS Winter Orchestra Concert, 6:00 p.m. – CHS Auditorium
  • HHS Choir Concert, 7:00 p.m. – HMS Auditorium
  • HEF Great Idea Spark Grants Due

Wednesday, December 3:
Thursday, December 4:

  • CHS Advance Orchestra Concert – Capitol Rotunda
  • HHS Upper Orchestra Concert, 6:00 p.m. – Capitol Rotunda
  • Central Elementary Christmas Market, 6:30 p.m. – Central Cafeteria

Friday, December 5: **Records Day – Elementary Noon Release

  • HHS Shakespeare in the Schools Play: Richard III, 8:35 a.m. – HMS Auditorium
  • HHS Winter Activity Kick-Off, 5:00 p.m. – HHS Gym

Saturday, December 6:

  • The Magic Flute, W.A. Mozart (Recorded Encore) (Ironhorse partnership)

Sunday, December 7:
Monday, December 8:
Tuesday, December 9:

  • Broadwater Winter Performance, 1:15 p.m. – HMS Auditorium

Wednesday, December 10:

  • PEAK Cake Walk – December 10, 6:30 p.m., Bryant Hub

Thursday, December 11:

  • Jefferson Winter Wishes, 1:30 p.m. – Jefferson Auditorium
  • Rossiter Winter Festival, 3:30 – Rossiter

Friday, December 12:
**Elementary Report Cards Go Home

  • Jefferson Winter Wishes, 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. – Jefferson Auditorium
  • Saturday, December 13:

 

If we missed something, please let us know – helenamtschools@helenaschools.org. As a good rule of thumb, always check with your school on what they have going on. You can also find upcoming event information and more in this year’s calendar online at https://helenaschools.org/25-26-calendar-flipbook/.