Elsie Arntzen and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 14, 2024

CONTACT
gaby@montanademocrats.org

Lawmakers express concern over delays, institutional inefficiencies, and poor communication from OPI
 

Helena, MT – Report cards have gone out and Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen is flunking out – at least that’s what both Republicans and Democrats from the Education Interim Budget Committee (EDIC) are saying.

Montana legislators from the EDIC penned a letter this week expressing concern over OPI’s implementation of several laws enacted during the 2023 legislative session, as well as Arntzen’s unwillingness to appear before the committee to discuss and resolve their concerns.

The Montana Free Press is reporting this week, “The committee’s message came in response to allegations of institutional inefficiencies and delays at OPI — allegations that prompted the committee’s chair and primary author of the letter, Rep. David Bedey, R-Hamilton, to express his view that Arntzen had ‘failed to meet her constitutional obligation’ as head of Montana’s K-12 public school system.”

“You know it’s bad when members of your own party are telling you you’re not fulfilling your constitutional duties,” said Executive Director of the Montana Democratic Party Sheila Hogan. “Elsie Arntzen is failing miserably at her job and Montana kids deserve so much better.”

“We have a responsibility to our children, families, school districts and taxpayers. Competent leadership matters,” said Democratic candidate for the Office of Public Instruction Shannon O’Brien. “We can do better.”
 

###