Senate majority leader Tony Rand said he expects lawmakers will react this session to a judge's ruling reshaping the way the state runs its schools.
Judge Robert Hobgood ruled today that June Atkinson, the state superintendent of public instruction, has the constitutional authority to run the state's schools and not William Harrison, who was appointed by Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue appointed to run the state Department of Public Instruction and chair the State Board of Education.
Rand, a Fayetteville Democrat, said he believed there would be "significant" appetite in the legislature to ensure the governor can appoint the head of the state school system.
"The convoluted system we have now doesn't appear to me to be in the interest of educational progress in North Carolina," Rand said. "This has been a continuous pain for a significant time."
Hobgood said Friday he believed it would take a constitutional amendment to grant the governor that power. Rand said he would have to take a look.
Update: Gov. Beverly Perdue released a statement about the ruling. "I am reviewing the court’s ruling. I look forward to continuing to work with Dr. Harrison and Superintendent Atkinson to achieve our goal of providing a quality education for North Carolina’s children."
Comments
Re: Rand: lawmakers should change ed law
July 20, 2009 - 9:14pm — time4changeThe voters should maintain the right to appoint via votes, the person he or she wants to head up the DPI. Rand is a J E R K! He is a Black and Decker left over.
Re: Rand: lawmakers should change ed law
July 20, 2009 - 10:02am — kevin_smith5Of course they'll try to change this. They can't have a person they didn't personally pick out in charge of 38% of the state budget.....they might not be able to control her. I'm sure if they had known this judge was going to rule this way they would have spent more time making sure "one of their own" got elected to the position.....
Re: Rand: lawmakers should change ed law
July 20, 2009 - 9:05am — BitterEXdemocratTony Rand, please REMOVE your NAME from the NCREC HQ on Navajo Drive. Your name does NOT belong on the Real Estate Commission HQ NOR any other NC building. Its an insult to every licensed real estate Broker in NC!
Re: Rand: lawmakers should change ed law
July 19, 2009 - 7:03pm — mountainmanPerdue and Rand are sure that they can still keep mrs atkinson on the side lines. Even though the voters put her in her job Bev and tony want someone of their choosing. Because they think they run this state, not the people. When will it ever be enough for the voters of this state!!!!! We can't even elect our own officals, because the corrupt politicans in raleigh want to be in total control. I guess because Obama has 34 Czars, Bev thought she had to have at least one. The Czar of education, has nice ring to it. I never thought I would live in a country or a state that had a Czar period!!! This not communist Russia, this is America. Or at least it used to be???
Re: Rand: lawmakers should change ed law
July 18, 2009 - 8:26pm — Indy1776All Hail Emperor Rand!
Re: Rand: lawmakers should change ed law
July 18, 2009 - 8:14pm — uncommon_sensePlease send this issue to the voters. Rand and company will be humiliated far worse than they were by Judge Hobgood if this is put to a constitutional amendment vote. Just read all the comments posted on the different news sites. The public is overwhlmingly against this idea of concentrating more power in the hands of elected officials that have their own self interest at heart.
Re: Rand: lawmakers should change ed law
July 18, 2009 - 3:05pm — TruthNGovtRand just doesn't get it. The voters put June Atkinson in her position and we don't need a constitutional amendment to change what we voted for...
How about an amendment to allow voters to replace him before the next election.
Re: Rand: lawmakers should change ed law
July 18, 2009 - 8:52am — grinder"I look forward to continuing to work with Dr. Harrison and Superintendent Atkinson to achieve our goal of providing a quality education for North Carolina’s children."
It's about time to provide quality education but I think it will take more than a "Judge Judy" court battle to determine who is driving this shipwreck !
I hope whoever really is in charge (if anyone) will ultimately explore the possibility that more money is not always the answer. Maybe "the judge" could get them to explore some other approaches rather than the battle cry, "Save the classroom !"
My battle cry, "Term limits!" "Four years max!" "Privitaize the whole government."
Re: Rand: lawmakers should change ed law
July 17, 2009 - 3:49pm — Russell123Rand- shut-up and be thankful that you staying in office depends on a small amount of constituents voting for you versus the statewide electorate who voted for June Atkinson. You would be long gone by now if you were subject to receive more votes to hold office than the majority of your (less than) 30,000 voting constituents. Stick to stuffing your face with barbecue and your "consulting" job- and let statewide elected officials do their jobs.
Re: Rand: lawmakers should change ed law
July 17, 2009 - 2:52pm — PaulTerrellTony Rand is represenative of the Democratic leadership and activist class in this state. They only listen to themselves and not to the people of this great state. HAD ENOUGH? VOTE REPUBLICAN!
Perdue continues to waste state's money
July 17, 2009 - 2:03pm — concerned53From her statement, Perdue is implying that she will continue to have the state pay for two leaders of education. Beverly, please admit that you have made a mistake and that the judge has ruled against your appointment. Quit wasting OUR money and let someone focus on solving our state's educational problems as even though you apparently have a Ph.D in education, you are incapable of doing anything but raising our taxes.
Re: Rand: lawmakers should change ed law
July 17, 2009 - 1:53pm — sky5714"This has been a continuous pain for a significant time."
That's the pain in your gut, Mr. Rand, as you are finally coming to the realization that your reign may be coming to an end.
I hear Apple is supposed to be bringing 50 jobs, at a cost of $46 mil in tax incentives, here to NC.
Maybe you could send them your resume.
Re: Rand: lawmakers should change ed law
July 17, 2009 - 1:45pm — robdarichRand further humilitates himself and NC with every breath. How do you fix that? He won't shut up and he certainly can't self-diagnose his disease. I bet he thinks he can stop anytime he wants... he just doesn't want to...
Does anyone know exactly when he sold-out? Seems like he must have been a nice guy at some point (bennie of doubt), but the Rand-come-lately is disgusting. It's not like I want to see him rehabilitate himself, I just don't ever want to see, or hear from him, et al.
Re: Rand: lawmakers should change ed law
July 17, 2009 - 1:27pm — KingixolibHe sure jumped on that pretty quick!
Wish he and his ilk would be that quick about Forced Annexation.
Career politicians breed corruption and lies. Vote them out or they die in office.
Option one...you win
Option two...you lose
Re: Rand: lawmakers should change ed law
July 17, 2009 - 1:01pm — cdtewAs I have been saying for several months now, we should all take a lesson from our forefathers who protested the corrupt policies of the self-interested British colonial system:
Tony Rand should be tarred and feathered.
Re: Rand: lawmakers should change ed law
July 17, 2009 - 12:53pm — OlBlueA Fayetteville Democrat trying to amend the Constitution to ensure that a Fayetteville Democrat retains control over the Education purse strings? CRONYISM is the name of that duck (that walks like a duck, quacks like a duck....). Would he have the same enthusiasm if the guy at education was from Boone??? Leave the Constitution alone, and let the citizens control DPI, through their elected representative!