Superintendent Arntzen Joins Malmstrom Pre-K-12 2022 Education Summit

• Brian O'Leary
• April 12 2022

HELENA, MT – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen joined Malmstrom Air Force Base, state, and education leaders in Great Falls for the 2022 Malmstrom Education Summit. The event was scheduled to coincide with the celebration of military-connected students for Purple Up! Day.

The purpose of the summit was to create a unified effort and shared vision for the advancement of the educational experience for military children and families. Montana has nearly 3,800 school-age (6-18) military-connected students with 1,184 located in Great Falls Public Schools.

Superintendent Arntzen and fellow members of Montana’s Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3) were hosted by MIC3 Department of Defense Representative Colonel Christopher Karns, United States Air Force, and Tom Moore, Great Falls Public Schools Superintendent. During the Summit the MIC3 Commission presented the Purple Star School designation to the following Great Falls schools:

• Great Falls Central Catholic High School
• Holy Spirit Catholic School
• Morningside Elementary School

The MIC3 Commission also recognized the following Great Falls residents with the Purple Star Champion award for going above and beyond to serve military-connected students.

• Joe Ferda – US Air Guard and Great Falls Public School Counselor
• Kim Ray – Morningside Elementary School Principal

“Montana itself is a rural community, and we know that community support can make or break the success of one individual. That is why I am proud to join leaders at Malmstrom and across the state to foster partnerships and discussions critical to determine the best way to meet the needs of Montana military-connected children and families,” said Superintendent Arntzen. “I will continue to work with partners at every level to identify and provide opportunities as we seek to ease educational burdens our military families experience.”

(Left to Right) Great Falls Public Schools Superintendent Tom Moore, Brad Livingston, Retired Brigadier General, Lieutenant Colonel John Bleile, Colonel Christopher Karns, Holy Spirit Catholic High School Principal Melissa Hallahan , State Superintendent Elsie Arntzen, Chief Shawn Wiser, Commissioner Ray Shaw, Retired Sergeant, and Representative Ed Buttrey.

In 2013, Montana’s Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission (MIC3) was adopted by the Montana legislature with the purpose to remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families. The MIC3 is a quasi-governmental entity operating under the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. With 50-member states and the District of Columbia, the Compact ensures the uniform treatment of military-connected children transferring between states and enrolled in public and U.S. Department of Defense schools.

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