Co-author stands behind bill to alter Indiana State Board of Education head

“When we don’t have that, it hurts the children of Indiana,” said Morrison, R-Terre Haute. HB 1609, which passed out of the House Education Committee last week, 8-3 along party lines, provides that the members of the state board of education elect their own chairman.

Current law says that the publicly elected state superintendent automatically serves as chair of the board of education. The bill would serve to remove State Superintendent Glenda Ritz, a Democrat, from her role as chair of the state board. She would still remain on the board.

Opponents of HB 1609 say it runs counter to what voters wanted in electing Ritz in 2012. She defeated incumbent Republican superintendent Tony Bennett and received more votes than Republican Gov. Mike Pence, who also was elected in 2012. Ritz received 1.3 million votes.

Morrison, interviewed by phone Monday, stands behind the legislation he co-authored. “It is important to consistently point out this is a policy decision; it has nothing to do with politics,” he said.

He said it is clear in Indiana’s constitution that “the state superintendent is the administrator of policy set solely by the state Legislature. ... The only body that has any constitutional authority to set policy for education is the state Legislature.” The Legislature can give some rule-making authority to the state board, which it has done, he said.

Morrison noted that in 36 states, the chairperson is elected by the state board of education. In only two states, Oklahoma and Indiana, is the state superintendent automatically the board of education chairperson. If HB 1609 becomes law, “We would be taking a step that would put us in line with a lot of other states.” A state superintendent could still be elected chair by the board of education, he said.

While there are those who suggest HB 1609 is all about politics, he says it’s all about policy, and he believes it’s best for kids. Morrison said he has two children in public schools, “and I obviously want them and their peers to have the best education possible.” 

He also noted that while 10 members of the 11-member board of education are appointed by the governor, those appointments are “very regimented.” They represent each of the nine congressional districts, and one member is at-large. No more than six of the members may be from the same political party, and four of the members must be licensed educators currently employed in an Indiana school, according to the state Department of Education website.

The proposal now goes before the full House of Representatives.

Among the opponents of HB 1609 is Danny Tanoos, Vigo County School Corp. superintendent. The effort to strip Ritz of her role as chairwoman of the state board of education “shows people’s votes don’t count,” he said. He pointed out that in 2012, she defeated the Republican incumbent, Bennett, and received more votes than Pence.

“The people spoke and they wanted Glenda Ritz to be their superintendent. We voted her to be the leader of public education in Indiana” and now a Republican-dominated legislature and Republican governor are working to “take away what we voted her to do,” he said.

Tanoos suggests that in the next election, voters need to send an even stronger message to the governor and Republican-dominated legislature. “You have to treat people with respect and dignity and listen to what the voting public has said,” Tanoos said.

Teresa Meredith, president of the Indiana State Teachers Association, said HB 1609 is not the only bill that would undermine the state superintendent of public instruction and work to the detriment of public education in the Hoosier state.

“I don’t see how they are helping students,” she said. Politics must be set aside and “we need to get moving on with the people’s business so students can get what they need most.”

If HB 1609 becomes law, “It will be a sad blow to the voters,” Meredith said. “Voters should be quite disturbed. ... They should be concerned for students.”

Ritz is a National Board Certified teacher and has three degrees, including two master’s degrees. She has a strong education background “and knows what she’s talking about when it comes to student learning and outcomes,” Meredith said.

The next chair may not have that solid background, she said. “I think that could be a real travesty for students in the state.”