Superintendent Elsie Arntzen Leads a Montana School Quality Task Force

• February 02 2022

HELENA- Superintendent Elsie Arntzen has initiated a process to explore recommendations for student learning success through a School Quality Task Force.  This Task Force will investigate the Montana Board of Public Education’s rules housed in Chapter 55 for school accreditation. This membership represents the uniqueness of rural and large school communities and includes Montana educational partners. The purpose of this Task Force is to research and recommend to the State Superintendent innovative benchmarks for learning that will replace a decade old system of standard measurements.   

A Negotiated Rulemaking is a formal proceeding following Montana law that embraces the recommendations from the School Quality Task Force and the Superintendent. These recommendations and a taxpayer economic impact will flow to the Board of Public Education.  After the Board's review and approval with multiple opportunities for public comment, the Montana legislature is requested to fund the proposed amendments.

“I welcome Montana families, parents, and teachers to be part of the conversation on what defines a quality education in Montana public schools,” Superintendent Arntzen stated.  “There has been much learned for needed flexibilities in these past two years of uncertainty.  Let's embrace local control by actively listening to our Montana communities through this process of putting our Montana students first.”

The current Task Force members are:

• Billi Taylor - Harrison K-12 Schools, District Superintendent
• Daniel Lee - University of Montana, Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Educational Leadership
• David Pafford - Noxon Public Schools, Board Chairperson
• Emily Dean - Montana School Boards Association, Director of Advocacy
• Gary Lusin - Bozeman Public Schools, Board Chairperson
• Gayle Venturelli - Anaconda Public Schools, Board Chairperson
• Heather Hoyer - Great Falls Public Schools, Assistant Superintendent 7-12
• Heather Jarrett - Reed Point Public Schools, District Superintendent
• Janelle Beers - Montana Small Schools Alliance, Executive Director
• Jon Konen - Corvallis K-12 Schools, District Superintendent
• Tony Warren - Turner Public Schools, District Superintendent, and Principal
• McCall Flynn - Board of Public Education, Executive Director - Taskforce Ex-Officio Member

The initial introductory meeting was held on January 11^th at the Capitol. The next meeting is scheduled for February 8^th  with multiple meetings through April.  Public comment is encouraged during any School Quality Taskforce Meetings.

Montana parents, community members, teachers, and teacher leaders are requested to apply for the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee that follows the Montana School Quality Task Force. For more information, please contact Julie Murgel, Chief Operating Officer at julie.murgel@mt.gov or desk# 1- 406-444-3172.