Ritz says power grab outlined in document

Ritz said she believes a legislative goal of the Center for Education and Career Innovation is to remove her as chair of the board.

“Last year, I was elected to lead the Indiana Department of Education and chair the State Board of Education,” Ritz said in a statement. “This document shows that the (Center for Education and Career Innovation) is attempting to change a governing structure that has worked for over 100 years, under both Democrats and Republicans.”

The document -- sent from a Center for Education and Career Innovation staff member to its co-director, Claire Fiddian-Green -- suggests revising Indiana law to allow the governor to appoint the chair of the education board. The document also provides a non-legislative solution of revising the education board’s operating procedures to bar Ritz from rejecting agenda items or motions made by board members.

A spokeswoman for the Center for Education and Career Innovation said the document, sent by e-mail in October, contained early policy ideas from a rank-and-file staff member. Lou Ann Baker, the center’s spokeswoman, said Pence has made it known he does not support removing Ritz as chair of the board.

Pence was presented the idea of appointing the education board’s chair in October, but he “rejected it immediately,” said Kara Brooks, a governor spokeswoman.

“Last week when (Pence) met with the superintendent, she showed him the document, and he told her in that meeting that he did not intend to revise the statue and appoint the chair,” Brooks said.

David Freitas, an education board member, said there’s been no “serious consideration” of removing Ritz as chair.

Ritz has accused the Pence-created Center for Education and Career Innovation of undermining her department. Pence created the center in August with the goal of enhancing collaboration among the state’s education initiatives and workforce development efforts.

Ritz’s staff found the document as they were looking for evidence of a potential “secret meeting” of the education board, said David Galvin, director of communications for the Department of Education. Ritz had sued the Indiana State Board of Education for allegedly violating the state's Open Door Law by conducting such a meeting over A-F school grades. A Marion County judge dismissed the lawsuit in November.

On Wednesday, Ritz also released a preliminary draft of a bill that would shift authority over student data to the State Board of Education. The draft has been circulating following an interim summer study committee, according to the education department.

Ritz spoke of the center’s policy document following an orientation session of the State Board of Education on Wednesday morning, where board members met with a mediator from the National Association of State Boards of Education. Ritz and Pence asked the national association to facilitate a conversation with the board on its responsibilities and operations, after interactions between board members and Ritz grew tense.

The meeting was not considered “open” under state law, though the media and the public were invited to attend. Because the meeting wasn't open, board members were restricted from taking official action.

A number of board members had asked Ritz to give the 48-hour notice required to make the meeting open, said board member Daniel Elsener. Ritz said she and Pence felt an orientation session was the best way to begin rebuilding the board’s relationship.

“We have to make rules on how the chair behaves and what goes on and what is appropriate and inappropriate,” Elsener said. “That is not by statue. That is our responsibility and that has been a little muddy.”

At least one board member aired issues with discussion topics not being placed on agendas for board meetings despite he asking.

Evansville-area board member B.J. Watts said the fact the gathering wasn’t an open meeting limited discussion he felt needed to take place.

“All of the contention before has been how is the agenda set and what constitutes an item being on the agenda and allowing us to take action,” Watts said.

Some board members hinted at calling an emergency meeting prior to the board’s meeting on Dec. 20 to clearly define its operating procedures.