Congressman Denny Rehberg

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, is asking the U.S. Department of Education to help mitigate the displacement of students at Helena’s C.L. Anderson Middle School, hit by structural damage from a July 25 earthquake in Southwestern Montana.

“My primary concern is for the well being of the displaced students whose education may be disrupted,” Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, said in a letter Tuesday to Education Secretary Margaret Spellings. “Please do whatever is necessary to mitigate the effects of this displacement and to assist the local school board in obtaining the necessary resources to quickly remedy this situation.”

The temblor, which measured 5.6 on the Richter scale, was centered 13 miles northeast of Dillon, Mont., about 90 miles from Helena.

“The damage has forced local school officials to close an 18-room wing of the school with just a few weeks until the scheduled beginning of the school year,” Rehberg said. “The structural damage could involve a lengthy repair process, during which time the students will have to be accommodated in temporary locations.” 

LETTER BELOW

August 16, 2005
 

Margaret Spellings
Secretary
Department of Education
Suite 7W301
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington DC, 20202

Dear Secretary Spellings;

I am writing to inform you of a developing situation in Helena, Montana, and to request any available assistance from the Department of Education.

Recently, an earthquake centered in southern Montana caused significant structural damage to C.R. Anderson Middle School in Helena, Montana.  The damage has forced local school officials to close an 18-room wing of the school with just a few weeks until the scheduled beginning of the school year.  These 18 classrooms – contained in an addition to the building that was built in 1965 – currently house approximately one third of the entire school population.

The structural damage could involve a lengthy repair process, during which time the students will have to be accommodated in temporary locations.

My primary concern is for the well being of the displaced students whose education may be disrupted.  Please do whatever is necessary to mitigate the effects of this displacement and to assist the local school board in obtaining the necessary resources to quickly remedy this situation.

Sincerely,
 

Denny Rehberg
Member of Congress

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