FEBRUARY 18, 2015
Superintendent Douglas: Best solution is legislation
Ambiguity regarding State Board of Education
PHOENIX – Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas (r) stated her desire to clarify that the Arizona State Board of Education staff is under the administrative supervision of the Board.
“I do not wish to spend vital tax dollars in a dispute over who is responsible for the various operations of the Board of Education. Those resources are better spent on classroom instruction,” stated Superintendent Douglas. “Statute has their staff reporting to the Department of Education, and specifically to the Superintendent. This ambiguity has created an unnecessary conflict between three public bodies that are all dedicated to serving children.”
“We do not want current staff, and the two who are limbo, to continue to experience stress as a result of dual roles between the Board and the Department,” said the Superintendent. “I look forward to working with Governor Ducey. I am confident that by working with the Governor and with the legislature, we can fix this with simple legislation not litigation. The legislation would clarify the Board has its own staff and responsibility for its own expenditures and operations.
“The sooner such legislation is passed, the sooner staff caught in the middle can return to normal operations, and this unnecessary conflict can be resolved without further cost to the taxpayer,” continued Superintendent Douglas. “Our focus needs to be on educating children, not continuing disputes over poorly written laws.”
