Superintendent Arntzen Proudly Appoints a New Member to the Community Choice School Commission

• Brian O'Leary
• August 31 2023

HELENA – Superintendent Arntzen has appointed Gary Carlson to the Community Choice School Commission. In the 2023 Legislative Session, Montana lawmakers passed HB 562, authorizing the establishment of Community Choice Schools. Section 4 of the bill establishes the Community Choice School Commission, which is responsible for approving authorizers for choice schools throughout the state. All members of the commission must have a demonstrated understanding of and commitment to choice schools as a strategy for strengthening public education.

“We opened a portal on our website to gather experienced committed members to serve on the Commission,” said Superintendent Arntzen. “I am pleased that 11 Montanans applied with expansive experience in education. I have faith that Mr. Carlson will be dedicated to our Montana students and families.”

Here are the applicants:

Ann Efta, Melissa Holmes, Michael Hoffman, Carolyn Long, John Lundt Ed.D., Aaron Ward, Dan Schmidt, Jon Rutt, Deb Black, Gary Carlson, and Curtis Smeby. The application requested experience in the following areas - Board Governance, Business, Finance, Education, Management, and Philanthropy

This commission has state-wide jurisdiction and authority and is attached to the Board of Education for administrative purposes. The commission consists of seven members:

• two members appointed by the Governor
• one member appointed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction
• one member appointed by the President of the Senate
• one member appointed by the Speaker of the House
• one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate
• one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

Members appointed to the commission must collectively possess substantial experience and expertise in board governance, business, finance, education, management, and philanthropy. The Superintendent's appointee will serve an initial term of 3 years. Each member of the Commission is entitled to reimbursement for expenses upon approval of the treasurer of the Commission as provided in the Commission’s bylaws.

Appointments to the initial terms must be made no later than 60 days from the law's effective date. If any appointing authorities fail to make the appointments, the remaining appointing authorities may make the appointments. The Office of Public Instruction application window will close on September 8.