The Helena Public Schools Board of Trustees on Monday took two decisions with immediate financial and community implications: it chose Slate + RTA to design renovations at Capital High School and appointed retired educator Keith Meyer to a vacant trustee seat created by the resignation of Rachel Robison.

Both actions tie directly to the $240 million bond package Helena voters approved in September. The district has identified roughly $14 million in deferred maintenance at Capital High School (CHS), and the selection of Slate + RTA signals the start of the architectural and planning work intended to address those needs under the larger bond program.

Deferred maintenance of $14 million represents a significant backlog for a single high school in a county the size of Lewis and Clark. From an economic standpoint, tackling deferred maintenance sooner typically reduces long-term costs; the cost of repair and replacement tends to rise over time as systems age and failures compound. The design contract is the next step toward issuing construction bids and allocating portions of the bond proceeds to renovation projects that will require local labor, materials and related services.

The bond package voters approved last fall is the vehicle for funding these projects, and its passage indicates community willingness to invest in school infrastructure. Local construction activity tied to school renovation projects often creates temporary jobs and demand for regional contractors, while also affecting local tax obligations tied to bond repayment. The board’s move to hire an architect clarifies which projects will move forward first and begins the regulatory and budgeting phases that typically precede visible construction.

In governance, the appointment of Keith Meyer, a retired educator, fills the vacancy left by Rachel Robison’s resignation. Board composition matters for oversight of bond expenditures, contractor selection and long-term facilities strategy. A trustee with classroom and administrative experience can influence priorities such as balancing capital improvements with educational program needs and maintenance planning to avoid future backlogs.

For Helena residents, the immediate questions will be timelines, the scope of renovation work at CHS, contractor selection and potential impacts on property taxes as bond repayment begins. The board’s decisions do not yet specify schedules or detailed project scopes; the architect selection is a planning milestone. As the district moves from design to bidding and construction, local taxpayers and families can expect further public updates, budget breakdowns and opportunities for community input on how bond dollars are spent.

The selection of Slate + RTA and the appointment of Meyer mark the transition from voter approval to project execution, setting local priorities for safety, maintenance and school facility investments that will shape Helena’s education infrastructure for years to come.