Senate committee approves bill to give state board authority to remove Ritz as Chair
02/02/2015

 

Monday, the Senate Rules Committee approved a bill that promises to deliver on one of Gov. Pence’s legislative priorities by removing Superintendent Ritz as chair of the State Board of Education. SB 1 (Sen. Travis Holdman R-Markle) would give authority to the state board members to select its chairperson.

 

Another provision within the bill allows for the state board to hire an executive director and staff with their own separate budget. This would could bring back much of the dysfunction created by the board’s staff under the just-dissolved CECI.

 

The other significant change under the bill would alter the makeup of the board. Rather than the members being all appointed by the governor, the board would have only eight members appointed by the governor and two members appointed by the House and Senate.

 

ISTA President Teresa Meredith testified today on behalf of educators across the state.

 

"We are six years into the implementation of the education reforms yet we are still trying to decide who is in charge. The dilemma is that voters decided this two years ago and this move has the appearance of trying to override them."

 

Now is the time to act. Policymakers need to hear from you. Find your local representatives and urge them to vote "No" on SB 1.