Speech
Testimony - School Renewal Commission (HB 736)
Remarks of Governor Judy Martz
State Capitol
3/17/2003
Chairman Lewis, members of the committee. For the record, my name is Judy Martz and I have the pleasure of serving as the Governor of Montana. It is with great excitement that I rise in strong support of this important bill.
Thanks to Majority Leader Roy Brown for taking the lead on this bill and Senate Majority Leader Fred Thomas, as well as Democratic Leaders David Wanzenried and Jon Tester for reaching across the aisle in support of our Montana children.
I announced this important piece of legislation in my State of the State Address. I am very proud to partner with a group of Montanans that epitomize public service on this project.
The Montana Board of Public Education always works with the best interests of students in mind. I am honored that they are willing to work with my office, the Office of Public Instruction and the education community to make this commission a reality.
As you can see from the cosponsors and proponents this is truly a bipartisan bill. I wouldn't have it any other way. Our students deserve all we can give them and the education of Montana's children should not be politicized.
HB 736 is more than a bipartisan bill. HB 736 is a nonpartisan necessity.
As we develop this commission, personal, partisan, and political agendas must be left aside. The interests of Montana's schools will be the only interest of each commission member.
I think we can all agree that the need for this commission is obvious. In my discussions with the Board of Public Education, they understand the fiscal difficulties that the state is experiencing. They also see, often firsthand, the impacts of these financial hardships on Montana's schools. That is why they wanted to help.
Through this commission, our goal is to provide hope to Montana's students, teachers, parents, and taxpayers. We want them to know that both parties and all school groups are willing to sit down at a table and find real solutions to make education stronger in Montana.
That is why the Legislature, Governor and Board of Public Education and Office of Public Instruction need to establish the commission.
Repeated adjustments, revisions, and court decisions regarding the education governance and funding systems in Montana make it difficult for educators and parents to understand the education in Montana.
As I noted in my State of the State Address, a top priority for my administration is to re-examine the school funding formula. Our current school funding system is a labyrinth that often does not allow citizens to explore the budgetary process. This must change.
By removing this confusion all Montanans can follow the funding system. We must identify a consistent source of adequate revenue for Montana's schools. Only then, can we truly set aside the argument around funding and engage in a true discussion that puts learning first.
This commission will also need to address concerns about the ability of Montana's education infrastructure to meet its constitutional obligation to provide for an effective and efficient system of free quality public elementary and secondary education.
Through these and other discussions, I am confident that the commission will be able to propose changes and new provisions regarding components of K-12 public education to the 59th Session of the Legislature.
I have long believed that it is better to strengthen our excellent schools than it is to rebuild them. This commission is going to make sure that happens.
Montana has incredibly bright students, involved parents and highly energetic and dedicated educators. By sticking together and focusing on the future this commission will make sure we thrive in these difficult times.
I thank the committee for your time and ask for your unanimous, bipartisan support of HB 736.
###
