Senate State Board Legislation Goes Deeper Than House Version
Not all General Assembly lawmakers are sold yet on the Senate’s plan to overhaul Indiana’s State Board of Education.
The Senate’s state board legislation, SB1, goes much further than its House counterpart, which only removes State Superintendent Glenda Ritz as automatic board chair. While allowing the board to elect its own chair, the Senate bill gives legislative leaders the power to appoint four members of the board. It also eliminates two members of the board, reducing it to nine.
House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis. (Photo Credit: Brandon Smith/IPBS)
House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, says he hasn’t decided whether to back that plan.
“Still a little curious as to the elimination of the representation from congressional districts, the geographic dispersal, and whether it should just be the governor’s appointments or the legislature should be involved as well,” Bosma says.
Senate Republican leader David Long, R-Fort Wayne, says he thinks his chamber’s plan is more balanced than the House bill.
“It shows that we really are looking at the functioning of the board itself and how can we get maybe a better operating board without pointing fingers at any one person and saying, ‘If we make this one change, that changes everything,’” Long says.
The House bill would keep current state board members in place, while the Senate version would require members be reappointed, should they wish to continue serving.
