A banner night at two local schools

Dec. 18 was a banner night for Kalispell’s high schools.

That night, at auditoriums at opposite ends of town, there were two events that showcased what’s exemplary about our schools and our students.

Flathead High School celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the International Baccalaureate Programme and the inaugural induction of people into an Academic Wall of Excellence.

Glacier High School celebrated the arts with its “Winter Wonderland” holiday concert blending choir, orchestra and band students in a musical extravaganza.

There was joy at both venues — joy at Flathead for the success of the demanding International Baccalaureate program and joyful sounds in the Glacier High School auditorium.

Flathead’s event noted the challenges in building the IB program but also the rousing successes, with 59 people inducted into the school’s Academic Wall of Excellence.

Glacier featured the talents of more than 200 student musicians (yes, the stage was a little crowded) in an impressive exhibition of youthful talent.

Those who attended either school’s special event came away awed by what our teachers, administrators and students have achieved. 

 An auditor by any name?

Maybe you were as puzzled as we were to learn that the state auditor’s website lists Monica Lindeen as the commissioner of securities and insurance.

The reason for our wrinkled brows is that, on Nov. 4, Montana voters rejected a constitutional amendment that would have changed the name of the state auditor to commissioner of securities and insurance.

Did the auditor not get the message?

Well, yes and no. When questioned by the Inter Lake, the communications director for the auditor’s office said a new logo has been approved for the office and a new website will be launched next spring.

But that raises the obvious question: Why was the name changed in the first place, when the state Constitution plainly establishes the name of the office as the state auditor. 

It’s certainly not an accident. If you do a search for the auditor’s website, you will be directed to csi.mt.gov and Lindeen is listed at the top of the page as Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance. 

Apparently this is all authorized by state law, but we’re not sure whether state law ever takes precedence over a state Constitution. We will let legal minds untangle that, but in the meantime we will await the rollout of the new web page and see if the will of the people is being followed or ignored.

We appreciate the belief of the commissioner that the current name is not descriptive of the office’s actual duties, but it was inappropriate (not to mention a waste of money) to change the name before authority to do so was received from the people.

Editorials represent the majority opinion of the Daily Inter Lake’s editorial board.