Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate approves temporary change to State Board candidate selection; bill sent to House
Summary
Senate Bill 78, changing candidate-selection procedures for the State Board of Education to use objective criteria and to repeal nominating provisions effective Jan. 1, 2017, passed the Senate on a roll call and will go to the House.
Senators approved Senate Bill 78, which revises how candidates for the State Board of Education are selected. Sponsor Senator Milner said the bill responds to a judicial decision and removes elements of the prior nominating procedure, replacing them with objective criteria focused on educational and experience backgrounds.
Senator Jenkins successfully moved an amendment requiring the nominating committee to interview each person who files a declaration of candidacy; Milner supported the amendment despite noting the potential burden if many candidates applied. Several senators voiced concern that the bill is a stopgap for the 2016 election cycle and urged continued work on a permanent solution. The Senate recorded a roll call and the clerk announced that "Senate Bill 78 have received 24 yay votes, 5 nay votes, 0 being absent"; the bill will be transmitted to the House.
The sponsor described the bill's intent as avoiding selection criteria that reference political or educational philosophies and instead basing choices on demonstrable experience and background.
