Don't expect the legislature to step into the debate this year over who should run the State Department of Public Instruction.
At least four bills were filed this session that would seek to make the Superintendent of Public Instruction an appointed office or get rid of it all together in favor of an education commissioner, Lynn Bonner reports. Such a move would require voter approval to change the state constitution.
There was a flurry of interest when state superintendent June Atkinson asked the legislature to straighten out the chain of command at the state Department of Public Instruction, and a little more later when she won a lawsuit giving her the authority to run the department.
Sen. Tony Rand, a Fayetteville Democrat and the chamber's majority leader, said he didn't expect any votes on eliminating the elected office this year. Legislators are engaged in the budget and haven't had time to talk much about a constitutional amendment.
"We're trying rather desperately to adjourn," Rand said. "I'm not hearing anything about this coming."
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Re: No action likely on schools law
I can see why many NC students perform poorly. After all these years of statehood and we still can't figure out who is running the schools. This should have been worked out during Reconstruction by the latest.
Who is "standing up for the children?" Who is "fightin' for education?" Who is "protectin' the classroom?"