Great Falls Tribune: "Montana group takes aim at school privatization"

A group was announced Tuesday that states its main purpose as defending students’ interests and the Montana Constitution by opposing school privatization in the Treasure State.

The Montanans Organized for Education (MOFE) Action Fund was announced by Rep. Moffie Funk, D-Helena, who is serving at its executive director.

The group says it opposes public school privatization, opposes public dollars being used to fund private for-profit schools, supports publicly funding public pre-kindergarten, supports recruiting and retaining educators and “adequate”  investments in public education.

Funk said while Montana’s commitment to public education has been strong,  in- and out-of-state special interests are spending money in an attempt to privatize schools.

“It’s our intention to draw a line in the sand on this issue before Montana becomes like so many other states whose public schools have been scrapped and sold for parts,” she said.

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Organization Formed to Defend the Interests of Montana Students and Public Schools

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 1, 2019

(MONTANA) - Today Representative Moffie Funk announced the formation of Montanans Organized for Education (MOFE) Action Fund. The organization’s primary purpose is to defend the interests of Montana students and the Montana Constitution by opposing school privatization in Big Sky Country.

Specifically, MOFE is dedicated to 

• Opposing the privatization of public schools

• Opposing public dollars being used to fund private for-profit schools

• Supporting adequate investments in public education

• Supporting publicly funded public pre-k

• Supporting investments in educator attraction and retention

“Montana’s commitment to public education has always been strong. Unfortunately, special interests from both inside and outside Montana are pouring cash into our state in an attempt to privatize our schools. Why? Because they see our kids and our schools as commodities that should be sold off to the highest bidder,” said Representative Moffie Funk, Executive Director of MOFE. “It’s our intention to draw a line in the sand on this issue before Montana becomes like so many other states whose public schools have been scrapped and sold for parts.”

In recent years, Montana has seen a surge in lobbying pressure from special interest groups touting so-called “school choice,” a term which masks a reckless agenda aimed at diverting public dollars to for-profit schools and institutions.

In addition to Representative Moffie Funk, the MOFE’s Board of Directors includes 

Jack Copps, Retired Educator and Superintendent

Lisa Cordingley, Helena Education Foundation Executive Director

Amanda Curtis, Educator and former State Representative 

John Heenan, Attorney 

Jesse Laslovich, Attorney

Jill Laslovich, Attorney

Clara McRae, Student

Dennis Parman, Montana Rural Education Association Executive Director

Amanda Penley, Student