Letter from MT Superintendent

Letter from MT State Superintendent – Elsie Arntzen

As your State Superintendent, I continually seek ways to connect with our Public-School District’s Board
of Trustees as well as local and District Superintendents. Here is some information you may find helpful
as your local school district looks forward to this May School Board elections.

What Does the Board of Trustees do for a Public School District?

– Every public school district is governed by a board of trustees or school board. These positions
are a publicly elected and represent their community in putting the interest of students’ first

– Trustees are trusted to make decisions about the local public school system based on the best
interest of their community

– School Board Trustees have Five major responsibilities

• Effective governance to set the direction for the school district based on the
community’s needs and expectations

• Staying aware and informed of policies at every level of government to ensure strong,
responsible governance takes place

• Searching, hiring, and evaluating the District Superintendent in a transparent manner

• Ensuring the public school district spending aligns with community needs and goals, by
approving the local school district’s annual budget

• Serve as community leaders in responsible representation and as advocates for students
of the public school district

Board of Trustee Candidate Qualification

– According to Montana Code Annotated any person who is qualified to vote in a district is eligible
to seek the office of trustee

– A well-rounded board of trustees with a variety of expertise can ensure the board seeks to
wholly meet their community’s various expectations

– As trustees often approve school district’s budget it is important to understand the role
Montana’s public lands play in financing our public schools through natural resource
development

Please visit

https://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/title_0200/chapter_0030/part_0030/sections_index.html for
additional information on how to seek election to your local public school district board of
trustees

To learn more about your Montana’s Office of Public Instruction recent accomplishments and how I am
putting Montana students first, please visit my website at www.opi.mt.gov. To keep up to date on
newsworthy work happening at Montana’s Office of Public Instruction visit www.news.mt.gov. Looking
for another way to get involved? Consider donating to purchase a U.S. Flag for the classroom of your
choice at http://opi.mt.gov/Leadership/Management-Operations/Office-of-the-
Superintendent/Military-Programs-Family_Support. You can also learn more about serving military
families and students through Montana’s Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission and our
community coalition. You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter (@SuperintendentEliseArntzen)
to stay informed.

Below is a list of recent articles and press releases relevant to education related issues.
https://newstalk955.com/school-superintendents-pen-letter-to-biden-on-oil-and-gas-bans/
https://newstalkkgvo.com/opis-arntzen-denied-montanas-local-control-assessment-waiver/
https://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/feds-deny-montana-waiver-request-to-not-
have-standardized-school-tests/article_7e475178-f709-55e3-9474-0ab06067baff.html
https://www.ktvh.com/news/montana-opi-highlights-career-technical-education-at-state-capitol
https://montanafreepress.org/2021/03/25/gianforte-board-public-education-appointments/

Superintendent Arntzen speaks weekly to Montana Legislative Pages

Superintendent Artnzen hosted a Naval Reserve Office Training Corps scholarship presentation ceremony
in the Old Supreme Court Chambers with Commander John Hiltz, Navy Talent Acquisition Group – Pacific
Northwest. Claire Downing and Logan Vandenburg each received $230,000 college scholarships.