The House Education Committee has voted to print a bill that would allow the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to nominate candidates to serve on the Professional Standards Commission. The SDE representative who introduced the bill told the committee that while other private organizations such as the IEA and the administrator’s association have the legal right to nominate individuals to the PSC, the State Superintendent does not.
What the Department representative did not share with lawmakers is that once these organizations submit nominations to the SDE, the Superintendent selects the nominees who will be forwarded to the State Board of Education for final approval, and as a member of the SBE, the Superintendent also casts a vote for the selected nominee.
If this bill passes, the Superintendent will have tremendous power and influence over the selection of candidates to the PSC. Why? Not only will he or she select the names of candidates to be forwarded to the SBE for final approval and vote for the selected nominee, but now he or she will also have the right to nominate candidates for a position on the Commission.
Here’s a question to ponder: If this bill passes, what’s the likelihood that candidates nominated by organizations other than the State Superintendent will be selected to serve on the PSC?
