Unprecedented: AA School Superintendents Have “No Confidence” in Arntzen’s Leadership
Helena, MT – Yesterday, Montana AA School Superintendents sent a letter of No Confidence to State Superintendent Elsie Arntzen, arguing that her “conduct destabilizes the credibility of our local schools, the same ones [she was] elected to represent and on whose behalf [she is] supposed to advocate.”
The scathing letter, signed by the superintendents of Billings, Belgrade, Bozeman, Great Falls, Missoula County, Butte, Kalispell and Helena school districts, accuses Arntzen of shocking dereliction of duty:
Participating in events that “vilify public educators”
“Permitting– indeed, encouraging– the OPI to bleed to death”
“Destabilizing the credibility of local schools” through her conduct
Failing to “advocate for the basic principles of the profession“
Superintendent Elsie Arntzen has had a controversial tenure at the Office of Public Instruction. With a turnover rate of nearly 90%, the OPI has been hamstrung by vacancies. Many outgoing employees identify Arntzen’s leadership as the root cause.
“We must listen to our educators,” says MDP Executive Director Sheila Hogan. “They’ve given Elsie Arntzen a failing grade. Our children and our communities deserve so much better. It’s time to do your job, Elsie.”
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