This post is the first in a series of posts on Education Issues. These represent my current thoughts in advance of the upcoming session, and are open for criticism, dialog, and helpful debate.
1. Better Ways of Selecting a State School Board
Proposal: Allow local school board members to elect the State School Board
Discussion: The primary criticism of the current State School Board is the lack of accountability. After talking with academic experts on elections, it has become clear to me that regardless of how the candidates are selected, putting the final choice of the board to a public vote with the large voting districts associated with a reasonably sized board is destined to produce unsatisfactory results. The system is susceptible to influence by any special interest group that is either highly organized or well-funded.
A better system would have the board selected by a smaller number of informed people who have a direct interest in education that closely aligns with those of the general public. Having the elected local school board members choose the State School Board would dramatically increase the accountability of the state board to highly engaged and motivated elected officials.
2. Providing a Specific Framework for the State School Board
Proposal Part 1: Clarify in statute a narrow purview of the State School Board as a regulatory executive branch body.
Discussion: The State Constitution uses two words to describe the role of the State School Board – control and supervision. To me, those words imply a regulatory body with an executive branch function. The board should interpret the law as created by the legislature, implement it through rule-making authority, then require accountability to those rules and laws from local school districts. The board does not have the authority to enact new policy or law on their own.
Proposal Part 2: If the legislature sees that there is a need to support local school districts and educators in other ways those responsibilities could be given to a separate agency under the oversight of the Governor.
Discussion: Current, the State Office of Education provides functions beyond those mentioned in part 1, such as by providing support services for smaller school districts or implementing state-wide programs. While I would prefer that the school boards and districts work together voluntarily through their association to create this type of support, it is a legitimate role of the legislature to provide for these solutions if they see fit to do so. Such an agency could be a cabinet-level agency or a subdivision of the Governor’s Office.
I concur with your proposed system in Item 1, but with the requirement that all school board members (whether local or State) who run for office, should be required to provide a published summarization of their background, qualifications, educational philosophy and stated position with regard to important issues such as Common Core.
Candidates for political positions do so in order to inform voters of who they are, what they stand for, and how they will vote. All candidates should be vetted by their constituents so there is transparency, and accountability, at all levels.
With regard to Item 2, the State Board of Education has (rightfully so) been referred to as the fourth branch of Utah government. So I do believe there should be oversight and regulation by the Legislature. The Board should implement – not create policy w/o discussion and approval. I am skeptical, however, at giving the Governor too much influence by putting an agency under his direction. Unlike Governors in some other states , ours has shown an unwillingness to consider opposing points of view, so there should be checks and limitations on his powers and influence.