The Montana Board of Public Education Elects Diane Fladmo as Chairperson

The Board of Public Education announced today that it has elected Diane
Fladmo to the Chair of the Board of Public Education for the next
business year. Fladmo, a realtor with Windermere Reality of Missoula,
was originally appointed in 1998, has served as Vice-Chairperson of the
Board, and is the current president of the National Association of
State Boards of Education. Patty Myers, Great Falls educator, was
elected Vice Chairperson.

Fladmo said, "I am very pleased to be allowed to carry on the important
work of the Board in these challenging and exciting times. In concert
with Governor Schweitzer and Superintendent McCulloch the Board has
placed a high priority on Kindergarten to College issues. A focus on
improving the entire education system will enhance Montanaís economy as
we strive for a world class education system viable and competitive
with the rest of the country and world. The Board is committed to
excellence in executing its ongoing Constitutional responsibilities in
general supervision of the Montanaís K-12 education system.î

Steve Meloy, Board Executive Secretary, was extremely pleased with the
confidence that the Board has placed in Ms. Fladmo, who understands the
difficult educational issues addressed by the leadership of the
outgoing chairperson Dr. Kirk Miller. Meloy stated, ìDr. Miller has
worked tirelessly on behalf of education in this state and his
remarkable ability to build consensus on difficult and sometimes
contentious issues has left the Boardís work in excellent shape and Ms.
Fladmo will be an excellent successor to the chairî he said.

The Board of Public Education was created by the Montana Constitution
of 1972 to exercise general supervision over the elementary and
secondary schools of the state. The Board consists of seven members
appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate to staggered
seven-year terms. In addition to the constitutional mandate to
exercise general supervision of the schools, the Board is assigned
specific responsibilities by the Montana Legislature, including
adoption of standards of accreditation for Montana schools,
certification of teachers and administrators, accreditation of the
States teacher and administrator training programs, adoption of
policies for the special education of handicapped and gifted and
talented students, and administration and distribution of state funding
for K-12 public education. In addition to Diane Fladmo and Patty
Myers, the other members of the Montana Board of Public Education are:
Dr. Kirk Miller, Storrs Bishop, Cal Gilbert, John Fuller, Angela McLean
and Jenny Tiskus.