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MICHAEL GEHLTrusteeMissoula County Public Schools1555 Cresthaven DrMissoula, MT 59808JIM RILEYTrusteeDistrict # 89 Smith ValleyPOB 10704Kalispell, MT 59901December 14, 2021Via internet emailThe Honorable Elsie ArntzenMontana Superintendent of Public InstructionP.O. Box 202501Helena, MT 59620-2501RE:Vote of Confidence!Dear Superintendent Arntzen,We write to refute the unauthorized “no-confidence” letter recently sent to you by certainschool superintendents gone rogue. These superintendents spoke with no authority fromtheir local school boards or the parents and students they purport to serve. We remindyou and the news media that the superintendents are nothing more than unelectedbureaucrats who do NOT represent the people of the state of Montana. The people electedyou twice, and we are delighted they did so. We thank you sincerely for thecompassionate, professional, and steadfast support you offer to local school boards and,most of all, parents and students. We are so proud of you and the work you do.The people elected you for a second time as a testament to our approval of your superbperformance during your first term. As parents and trustees, we wish to affirm youroverwhelmingly positive response to parent and student interests. You have showncourage and endurance in receiving an avalanche of public comments this past year. Youhave responded with laudable vigor to parents seeking your assistance in pushing backagainst unelected school officials and their wildly unpopular agenda. You aided parentsin resisting superintendent agendas of forced masking and Equity Policies. You helpedparents expose and ban pedophilic grooming materials like Gender Queer and Lawn Boy.You brought parent concerns over racist Critical Race Theory curricula to the attention ofthe Montana Attorney General, who declared the hateful material and messaging toviolate the Montana Human Rights Act. Despite hate from the Left, you shouldered theseburdens on behalf of the vast majority of parents from around Montana who oppose theschool bureaucrats’ radical agenda. Montana has rarely seen a more effective advocatefor parents and students.

Supt. ArntzenDecember 13, 2021Page 2Not satisfied with these accomplishments, you have also spent enormous resources andtime responding to parents with committed outreach, tirelessly traveling the state, in allweather, to talk face to face with parent groups about what is most important to them.You have been stalwart in promoting the rights of parents over the superintendents andtheir radical agenda. You are a true pioneer and champion of parental rights and parentalchoice.Thank you for the heavy lifting of eradicating waste, fraud, and abuse from the tired andentrenched OPI bureaucracy. Yes, reform in the name of the people who elected you hasindeed caused turnover. The reform, however, was not only long overdue but absolutelynecessary. You have shown “true grit” in refusing to be bullied by defenders of the failedstatus quo. Montana educational institutions have been saddled for at least 20 years withentrenched unions and bureaucrats from the minority party. The clear majority ofMontanans—who elected you—now expect and demand change, not only in failedpolicies, but in failed staff. It’s called “accountability.” And you delivered.Whenever a school board or a particular trustee needs advice, assistance, or instruction,whether in the fine points of boardsmanship or legal compliance or how to best approacha local problem, you have faithfully assisted all who called upon you for counsel. Youhave worked tenaciously to help parents and trustees with the array of tools at yourdisposal. You successfully secured and assured funding for local schools from a varietyof state and federal resources. You have consistently focused on parents and students—and put power in their hands, not the hands of the unelected school bureaucrats. Yoursuccess in putting parents and students first, and administrators and teacher unionssecond, explains why these bureaucrats have now attacked you with such raw venom.Ultimately, the superintendents targeted you because of the idea that got you elected.The superintendents hate the idea that parents have the fundamental right to direct theupbringing, education, health care, and mental health of their children. Shame on them.Keep up the good fight, Elsie. You shine as an example for us all.Enthusiastically yours,Mike GehlTrustee, MCPSTrustee, Dist. # 90

Supt. ArntzenDecember 13, 2021Page 3We, the undersigned, concur in the foregoing and express our full support forSuperintendent Arntzen:MONTANA ELECTED OFFICIALSSenateHouse of RepresentativesMike Cuffe, Eureka, SD1Steve Gunderson, Libby, HD1Carl Glimm, Helena, SD2Neil Duram, Eureka, HD2Bob Keenan, Big Fork, SD5Braxton Mitchel, Columbia Falls, HD3Mike L. Lang, Malta, SD17Matt Regier, Kalispell, HD4Kenneth Bogner, Miles City, SD19Jeremy Trebas, Great Falls, HD26Tom McGillvray, Billings, SD23Ed Hill, Havre, HD28Cary Smith, Billings, SD27Bob Phalen, Lindsay, HD36Brad Molnar, Laurel, SD28Frank Fleming, Billings, HD51Jennifer Carlson, HD69John Esp, Big Timber, SD30Michele Binkley, Hamilton, HD85Barry Usher, Billings, SD40Brad Tschida, Missoula, HD97Local OfficialsJustin Buls, School Board Trustee – West ValleyHeidi Burkhalter, School Board Trustee – Smith ValleyAmy Casazza, School Board Trustee—EurekaCody Houtchens, School Board Trustee—StevensvilleBen Woods, School Board Trustee—Big ForkRod Kuntz, Kalispell, City-County Board of HealthBrad Abel, Kalispell, Flathead County CommissionerStand Up Montana1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONSMontana Parents Rights in EducationMONTANA CITIZENSDiana Wilsey, Missoula11.Margaret Robertson, East HelenaNatalie Sue Robbins, Billings12.Jacqueline Rouse, HuntleyMorgan Potter, Livingston13.Kari Zeier, BillingsDuane Winslow, Billings14.Rachel Minert, SheridanAmy Bruce, Billings15.Sandy Graham, BillingsBret Smith, West Yellowstone16.Frank Kucera, DarbyMarcia A. Lennick, Great Falls17.Jackie Kucera, DarbyMary Reed, Trout Creek18.Heather Higgs, BozemanJoseph Flaherty, Big Sky19.Erick Fetterhoff, LivingstonNicole Sargent, Billings20.Brian Cayko, Great Falls

Supt. ArntzenDecember 13, 2021Page 54.55.56.57.58.59.Karen Beach, BozemanBonnie Mitchell, Great FallsJacqueline Vannoy, MissoulaLeslie Ellington-Staal, MissoulaJocelyn Juelfs, Great FallsStacy Kandel, Trout CreekFrancis Weigand, MissoulaTonia Dyas, BozemanAngela Muse, PlainsChristina Green, BelgradeLisa Orback, LivingstonBruce Leibold, DrummondBart Crabtree, Great FallsBrent Hoffman, HelenaMelissa Morgner, BozemanDawn R. Taylor, Three ForksMargaret Ryder,Gallatin GatewayBen Wagner, WhitehallCasandra Welsh, ButteMichael Takeuchi, ColumbusVanessa Pritchard, MissoulaRobert Tarver, HamiltonGreg Gerdes, HelenaAllan Baker, KalispellBethanie Green, BozemanCourtney McAdams, HelenaTillman McAdams, HelenaCathy Carlson, East HelenaHeather Huston, BillingsElizabeth Newsom, MissoulaAnne Stefani, BozemanJudy Harris, LakesideMarla Davis, BelgradeDaniel Fey, WhitefishRick Thomas, KalispellJulie Perche, WhitefishSamantha Riley, KalispellEd Byrnes, Creston, Col. USA(R)Cheryl Tusken, 91.92.93.94.95.96.97.98.99.Doug Wrey, KalispellKristy Wrey, KalispellCher Mclean, KalispellTim McClean, KalispellPreston Hamilton, KalispellJennifer Hamilton, KalispellErine Jessop, KalispellMelody Jessop, KalispellJoe Jessop, KalispellMary Jessop, KalispellMakayla Jessop, KalispellJaycie Jessop, KalispellChris Ablott, KilaDiane Jessop, CorvallisHayden Jessop, CorvallisWinston Jessop, CorvallisSavannah Jessop, CorvallisMax Jessop, CorvallisAnson Jessop, CorvallisAndelyn Jessop, CorvallisMerrin Jessop, CorvallisCaydence Jessop, CorvallisGina Klempal, KalispellJoe Klempal, KalispellRichard Jackson, WhitefishZach Murray, Columbia FallsPresley Pritchard, WhitefishBill Miles, KalispellDaniel Williams, KilaCarrie Williams, KilaJosh Olschewski, WhitefishBrian Todd, KalispellJustin Farrington, KalispellJessica Farrington, KalispellJason Preble, KalispellTed Valentiner, KalispellSandy Smith, KalispellKen Ferrion, CrestonOlen Hamilton, KalispellLee Yandl, Kalispell

Supt. ArntzenDecember 13, 2021Page 37.138.139.Lynsi Deward, EvergreenMike Rozell, WhitefishKyle Nace, KalispellWillie Davis, KalispellHanna Davis, KalispellDerek DeWard, KalispellLinsdey DeWard, KalispellChris Cambell, KalispellJim Morris, KalispellDenise Morris, KalispellRandy Flicker, KalispellMarilyn Nelson, KalispellAllie Sturgess, KalispellRon Wenzel, Big ForkDiane Martin, KalispellBen King, Columbia FallsPalen Hagestuen, KalispellKevin Colicino, Big ForkBrittany Colicino, Big ForkKelly Hibbs, KalispellJesse Hibbs, KalispellLisa Vanzant, KalispellMark Vanzant, KalispellLarry Ashcraft, PolsonDorthy Ashcraft, PolsonHarley Brotherton, KalispellErin Brotherton, KalispellErin Fitz, KalispellArron Fitz, KalispellBrett Kelly, KalispellAmy Kelly, KalispellJessica Todd, KalispellScotia Brosnan, KalispellMing Lovejoy, KalispellThomas Millett, MarionMichelle Millett, MarionMichelle Daniels, WhitefishTrish Pandina, KalispellShaun Pandina, KalispellAllison Bedore, 75.176.177.Jayna Hernandez,Columbia FallsJessica Vergin, KalispellRod Weber, KilaCarla Weber, KilaDoug Wray, MarionGabrial Sten, MarionWilliam Denton, KalispellGaylane Newhurst, KalispellChad Danielson, KalispellSiri Danielson, KalispellJustin Danielson, KalispellCaitlin Danielson, KalispellDave Pittsley, KilaJean Pittsley, KilaBerda Stern, MarionKristey Wray, MarionSophia Danielson, MarionGary Treatman, KalispellGeorge Danielson, KalispellHeather Tudor, Columbia FallsReuben Tudor, Columbia FallsRandy Marshall, KalispellDr. Albert D. Olszweski, M.D.,KalispellLacey Hill, BozemanSanford Langager, RobertsNancy Langager, RobertsTerrence Phillips, CorvallisSonia Shearer, MissoulaSean CalahanBarbara CalahanKenneth BognerLeah Frederick, BillingsEd Hill, HavreMaria K. Nash, BozemanChristy SimsWard Wenholz, MissoulaJan HendersonCody Haslam

Supt. ArntzenDecember 13, 2021Page 15.216.217.Michele HaslamHannah Hartzell, BillingsLane PerrineMichael WilsonRegis McIntyre, FrenchtownMrs. Regis McIntyre, FrenchtownDale Doney, ArleeMelisa SchelvanDonald KenckCydney Henderson, VictorAlicia HamiltonEric HamiltonLeni Gaston, BozemanGlenda Edgeworth, StevensvilleHelen Sabin, CorvallisMarc L. Sabin, CorvallisJana Bornhoft, BillingsJan Kubasko, FlorenceDan Foster, EurekaSherry Rossiter, MissoulaLaura Fricke, FlorenceLacey Hill, BozemanKatie Gilbert, BozemanBrandi Phillips, BillingsRuss Kinzer, Columbia FallsClarice Kinzer, Columbia FallsMichael Priske, MissoulaLinda Priske, MissoulaJonathan Allen, EurekaElena Brooks, BozemanChris Brooks, BozemanHans Zech, BozemanDarylee Zech, BozemanKathy Wilcox, TostonLisa Stonehocker, BozemanJason Wildman, BozemanAmy Klaschik, NoxonChris Klaschik, NoxonSydni Phillips, BozemanHeather Hicks, M.D., 3.254.255.256.Beth Mcdonough, Great FallsMatt Schuyler, BozemanMelissa Melton,Gallatin GatewayRobin Schauers, BozemanChad Schauers, BozemanMichael Whaley, BozemanErika Whaley, BozemanJaysen Anderson, BozemanJessica Anderson, BozemanJosh Oberly, BozemanRebecca Oberly, BozemanKimberly Hattery, BillingsMolly Lovas, BozemanKatie Naeher, BelgradeArlie Naeher, BelgradeCaitlyn Jelley, BozemanCraig Putchat, East HelenaJane Putchat, East HelenaNancy Bates, ManhattanCharlene Beebe, TownsendBruce Beebe, TownsendLisa Bayless, BozemanBradford Colyer, BozemanMaria Johnson, BozemanDavid Rowell, Seeley LakeMelissa Ross, BozemanTammie Auras, MissoulaRobertAuras, MissoulaDon Hook, Sand CouleeKevin Johnson, BozemanMelissa Bradford, BozemanJames I. Lyon, MissoulaErick Prather, MissoulaDavid R. Scott, MissoulaSandra Shumaker, BozemanAudrey Winfrey, LivingstonShelley Loyson, MissoulaKeziah Lawicki, BillingsDeborah Rickey, Billings