VOTE411 Voter Guide

A school board is a democratically elected body that oversees the provision of education to children residing in your District. School boards provide governance while serving as a bridge between the community and professional staff.Constitutional and Statutory Authority: Unlike many states, where state-level boards or agencies take the lead role in education, the ultimate responsibility for quality public education in Montana rests with the locally elected school board of trustees. The Montana Constitution is unique in placing both supervision and control of public education in the school boards’ hands. Article X, Section 8 of the Montana Constitution articulates this directly: “The supervision and control of schools in each school district shall be vested in a board of trustees to be elected as provided by law.”The Board of Trustees of Potomac Elementary School District No. 11 is the governmental entity established by the state of Montana and constitutionally charged of the supervision and control of all aspects of the District’s operations.To achieve its primary goal of providing each child with a basic system of free quality education as required by Montana Law, the Board shall exercise the full authority granted to it by the laws of the state. Its legal powers, duties, and responsibilities are derived from the Montana Constitution and state statutes and administrative rules.Policies of the Board define and frame the manner via which the District conducts its official business. The policies of the District are modified/updated from time to time to reflect the operation of the District.There are three candidates on the ballot who are running for two three year position open on the Potomac School Board. Voters will vote for one individual for the May 5, 2026 election.