GOVERNOR MARTZ PUTS EDUCATION FUNDING IN SPOTLIGHT

Appoints Education Funding Advisory Council

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 20, 2001
CONTACT: Shane M. Hedges
Governor’s Office
406-444-5522

HELENA, MONTANA - Continuing to make education a priority in her administration, Governor Judy Martz today announced the establishment of an advisory council to assist her office in conducting the study of the state's public school funding system recently called for by the Legislature. Under House Bill 625, the Governor was directed to conduct a study of various issues relating to funding for K-12 public schools.

"While we've been given a great deal to do in a short period of time, I am confident that this particular group can serve as very valuable resource in assisting us with this difficult task", said Martz. "I've tried to bring together individuals with as wide a range of experience and knowledge as possible, from large school to small school, east to west, as well as parent and taxpayer perspectives".

Governor Martz appointed her Education Policy Advisor, Jeff Hindoien, to chair the council and Madalyn Quinlan, Chief of Staff to State Superintendent of Public Instruction Linda McCulloch, as vice-chair. The balance of the council consists of Kirk Miller, Chairman of the Board of Public Education and Superintendent of the Havre School District; Rachel Villieux, Missoula County Superintendent of Schools; John McNeil, Superintendent of the Savage School District; Sandra Murie, Superintendent of the Rocky Boy School District; Geoff Feiss, a member of the Helena School District Board of Trustees; Dennis Burr, a retired citizen from Clancy; and Linda Tutvedt, a parent from the Kalispell area.

The legislation calls for the Governor, after consultation with the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, to prepare and submit a preliminary report to the Education and Local Government Interim Committee by December 31, 2001. The Committee is then tasked with reviewing that report, soliciting public comment and then returning its recommendations for changes to the report. The Governor will then issue a final report, with both the Governor and the Interim Committee given the authority to prepare legislation for consideration by the 2003 legislature.

"The quality of Montana's education system always has been and firmly remains one of my top priorities -- it is an absolutely indispensable element to the development of a strong economy and good paying jobs for Montanans", said Martz. "We are, however, operating with a school funding mechanism that was designed and implemented during times of expanding student enrollment -- that is not the situation we now face. We need to take a hard look at the mechanics of how we fund our public schools to ensure that we have a system that provides as much equity and flexibility as possible, regardless of whether enrollments are rising or falling".

Martz Administration officials will coordinate the schedules of the members and announce the first meeting date next week.

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