Montana Superintendent Describes Meeting With President Trump

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - Montana’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Susie Hedalen, met on Thursday at the White House with President Trump and the new head of the soon-to-be-dismantled U.S. Department of Education, Linda McMahon.

She described the environment in the room filled with educators from around the nation.

“It was a very energetic room, and a great opportunity to make sure we had Montana's voice at the table,” began Hedalen. “That's why I was invited, because I've been in close communication with the White House administration and making sure that they understood what resources are really important to our Montana schools.”

Hedalen first confirmed the Trump administration's commitment to Montana schools.

“I've been talking to them about our Title One funding, IDEA funding. Carl D. Perkins Act career and technical education is very important to me,” she said. “We've been in communication with USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) for our school nutrition programs, and so I have also been reaching out to the new leadership at the Department of Education. Like I said, I was on the phone with the White House again that day, and that I got invited, and I received the invite just a little bit after my phone call with them.”

Hedalen confirmed that many in Montana are confused and afraid about the changes in education in Washington, D.C.

“I wanted to be proactive and make sure that we had a voice in the discussion,” she said. “I have been reaching out to them so that I had the correct information. I feel like there's been a lot of misinformation and concern and fear out there in the media, so I'm trying to make sure that we are putting the right information out to our schools and to our communities across the state of Montana on what this means for education.”

Hedalen said she has been out in front of the expected changes in the relationship between federal and state education policies.

“We look forward to this change and transition, and that's why I have been very vocal,” she said. “I've been proactive. Rather than be worried about the change and sitting back and seeing what happens to us, I am being active in the process and making sure we have a voice at the table and how these changes come into play. I'm just making sure that we stay on top of it and get the most current information. We stand ready at the state OPI (Office of Public Instruction) to take this on.”

President Trump then signed the Executive Order officially closing the U.S. Department of Education.