New Montana OPI Superintendent on Her First Days in Office

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - Newly elected Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Susie Hedalen appeared on the KGVO Talk Back show this week and discussed a number of issues related to public education.

She said two members of Montana’s Congressional delegation came to her office this week and spoke to her about the Trump Administration’s plans to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education.

New OPI Superintendent Hedalen Appeared on Talk Back

“I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to have (Congressman) Troy Downing and (Senator) Tim (Sheehy) actually came to the Office of Public Instruction this week to talk to me about it, (the Department of Education) and so I do have great updates to share on that. I know that Secretary McMahon is up for confirmation hearing on the 20th, and once we have that leadership in place, we're hoping to get even more details.”

Hedalen said the North Dakota superintendent of public education has become a friend and colleague in public education.

“Superintendent, Kirsten Basler, who has been the Superintendent of Schools for the state of North Dakota for many years, is one of the top officials also nominated to be a part of this education change,” she said. “And so now I have a direct line of communication with her. We've been texting and I'm glad that we will have someone there that understands our demographics and the rural nature of our state.”

Hedalen said Closing the Department of Education Would Bring More Funding

Hedalen is looking forward to seeing school funding come directly to the states.

“What we are hoping to see is the funding going directly to the state and taking out that level of bureaucracy, which will hopefully mean more funding going directly to our students and families that we have more control over, so we can make sure it's more impactful for our programs that are necessary in Montana,” she said.

Hedalen said She Was Thankful to Keep Her State Education Funding

Hedalen said she was also thankful to have all her state education programs remaining in place.

“At this point in time, we have no concern, and we have gotten no information that any of our critical programs that our schools utilize will be cut,” she said. “So they have been reassuring us that Title One, for example, which is a big chunk of money that goes to our schools, will remain intact. They're just talking about shifting the funding, hopefully to the states.”

Hedalen succeeded Elsie Arntzen, who served two terms as the Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction.