Montana Education Commission a ‘ray of hope’

State education officials expressed great anticipation Thursday for an education study bill that got scant attention during the legislative session.

By PETER JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Writer

Havre Superintendent Kirk Miller, chairman of the Montana Board of Public Education, said the direct involvement of Montana’s political leaders in the comprehensive "public education renewal commission" could be "the ray of hope" that stops Montana teachers from leaving for other states.

Lt. Gov. Karl Ohs, appointed to represent Gov. Judy Martz on the commission, said if people "drop their preconceptions and come to the meetings with fresh minds, we could change a system of school financing that has been a big problem for a long time."

"The challenge is to be bold, and to come up with solutions that fit Montana," Ohs said.

Miller agreed, saying: "Nothing is more important to Montana education."

Superintendent of Public Instruction Linda McCulloch said later that she is "excited about anything that will help kids in the classroom."

"Funding isn’t the only issue, but it’s a huge one," she added. "If the commission can’t come up with a way to provide adequate funding through a stable source, then schools will be coming to the Legislature looking for more money every two years."

House Bill 756 was brainstormed by the education board, endorsed by the governor and sponsored by political leaders of both parties. It sailed through the Legislature practically unnoticed.

Observers might have thought, "this is just another study bill," Miller said.

But he said what makes it different is that it asks House Speaker Doug Mood and Senate President Bob Keenan, both Republicans, and House Minority Leader Dave Wanzenried and Senate Minority Leader Jon Tester, both Democrats, to each serve, along with representatives of the governor, the Board of Public Education and the Office of Public Instruction.

If the legislative leaders can carve out and buy into a solution that simplifies the state’s overly complicated school funding system, provides an adequate and stable source of money and addresses such issues as school consolidation, they should be able to get their parties to approve it, Miller said.

In fact, the past legislative session demonstrated the need, with Republicans and Democrats again fighting bitterly through the last day over education spending.

The new law calls for the core commission members to invite 10 to 25 other groups with a stake in education to join the commission. It must make its final recommendations by Sept. 15, 2004.

Martz sent out letters to the core members today asking whether they or a representative will serve. She wants the core group to meet by June 25 to identify the other members and for the commission to get started before school starts next fall.

The Legislature provided $10,000 to finance the commission, but Martz is seeking another $70,000 from private individuals and corporations interested in better schools and economic development, Ohs said. That money would allow the large group to get together often.

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