Superintendent Arntzen Releases Statement on Billings Public School District Board of Trustees Meeting on Book Challenge

• Brian O'Leary
• January 23 2024

BILLINGS - Billings Public School District #2 Board of Trustees met on January 22, 2024, to hear public comment on including Yusei Matsu’s Assassination Classroom, Volume 1 in the library collection. The board voted against removing the book in a 5-4 decision.

Superintendent Elsie Arntzen released the following statement:

“This is an extremely disappointing decision from the Billings Trustees. I was hopeful that these Trustees would reflect the decision the Laurel Trustees made to protect our children from obscene materials. Our Montana tax dollars should invest in an education that elevates our children’s learning. It is an egregious misuse of precious taxpayer dollars to provide books with depictions of graphic violence and sexual content to our children. When children are being exposed to this material, I will always stand with parents and Montana families.”