Superintendent Arntzen Encourages Health Officials and School Districts to Allow Parents to Attend Sporting Events 

August 26, 2020

HELENA— Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen sent a letter yesterday to Montana’s county health officers encouraging them to allow parents or guardians to attend their children's school sporting events. The letter was offered in support of the stance taken by the Montana High School Association (MHSA).

“Montana families are seeking a sense of normalcy as school doors reopen this fall. For many families and students, that includes sports and extracurricular activities,” Superintendent Arntzen said Tuesday. “Students interacting with their peers through sports and activities is crucial to their social-emotional and mental health. For families, not only is it an opportunity to support their child, it can be necessary for a parent to be present due to an unforeseen medical emergency. We must all take safety precautions in light of COVID and I fully respect the local control of our county health departments and school districts. However, I do believe that parents and guardians should be able to be present during their child’s extracurricular activities.”

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CONTACT:   Dylan Klapmeier

                       Director of Communications, Montana Office of Public Instruction

                       dylan.klapmeier@mt.gov

                       406-444-3559