Sponsor urges constitutional change to let governor appoint state superintendent; committee hears testimony

Representative Schutte testified in favor of House Joint Resolution E, which would amend the state constitution to allow the governor to appoint the state superintendent. Schutte said Michigan’s education outcomes justify the change and argued that a governor-appointed superintendent would be more directly accountable to voters.

"We are one of the only states that has a so called independent head of its education department," Schutte said, adding that he believes an appointed superintendent would improve accountability and align education leadership with gubernatorial policy priorities.

Members raised concerns about potential partisan swings. Representative Weiss asked whether appointing the superintendent could make the office more partisan and produce frequent policy shifts when governors change; Schutte countered that the present system is itself partisan because candidates are nominated at party conventions and the state board appoints the superintendent. Representative Fox warned that constant changes in educational policy can harm classroom stability and urged caution about shifting authority.

Representative Paquette cited historical precedent, noting Michigan’s first governor appointed the state superintendent and said a return to that model could be positive. Several organizations filed opposition cards, including the Michigan Education Justice Coalition, 482 Forward and the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation; Olivia Ponte from the Michigan Department of Education also filed opposition.

No formal committee vote on the resolution is recorded in the provided excerpt; the committee concluded its agenda after testimony.