MISSOULA, Mont. (NMB) – The Missoulian reports that at a public meeting on Monday, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen took part in a discussion on parental rights.
At the meeting, Arntzen stated she is working with Attorney General Austin Knudsen on creating a rule that would allow parents to opt out of some local school board policies, such as mask requirements, and that it could be implemented in April.
Whether Arntzen has the authority to do this is unclear. In fact, Montana School Boards Association Executive Director Lance Melton recently said “the state superintendent has no constitutional authority” over districts.
