Power Struggle Persists Between Legislators and State Board of Ed

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) The chair of the Utah State Board of Education refused an invitation to testify at a legislative committee today because he hoped to avoid "further politicization of the relationship between the Attorney General and the school Board. But the move only appears to have deepened the division between the anti-voucher State Board and several powerful members of the Utah legislature:

"I find it distressing - and I say that mildly - as I read the letter from Chair of the Board Burningham that he refuses to sit down and reason together," says House Republican Leader Brad Dee referring to the memo from Board of Education Chair Kim Burningham. "Those of us striving to do things positively for education are hampered by that kind of attitude."

Supporters of vouchers are still angered at the state board's refusal to implement vouchers, despite the AG's opinion to the contrary. Lawmakers spent an hour debating the state school board's authority to defy the Attorney General before Education Interim Committee co-chair Howard Stephenson promised to let the issue alone - for now:

"I agree that further discussion of this issue should probably wait until after the election so that this isn't viewed as something that has anything to do with that - because to me it doesn't," says Stephenson.

However, vouchers have undeniably heightened the tension and Stephenson is part of a growing effort to revamp elections for the state board. He has also expressed interest in giving the Attorney General more control over two staff attorneys at the State Office Of Education who came under fire for advising the state board in opposition to the AG's opinion on vouchers.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom, Legislative Coverage, and 2007 Legislative Coverage. Copyright 2008 KCPW