Months of political maneuvering in an attempt to oust the commissioner of education could culminate Tuesday in a closed Board of Education meeting. The board is expected to discuss firing Margie Vandeven, a move vehemently opposed by many education leaders and legislators.
The meeting is the next step in what appears to be a months-long effort by the governor’s office to remove the commissioner.
kAmqFE A6C E96 DE2E6 4@?DE:EFE:@?[ 56E6C>:?:?8 H9@ D9@F=5 — @C[ :? E9:D 42D6[ D9@F=5 ?@E — 36 4@>>:DD:@?6C :D 2 564:D:@? 7@C E96 3@2C5[ ?@E E96 8@G6C?@C’D @77:46[ E@ >2<6]k^Am
kAmu:G6 @7 E96 6:89E >6>36CD @7 E96 3@2C5 92G6 366? 2AA@:?E65 3J v@G] tC:4 vC6:E6?D D:?46 E9:D DF>>6C] w:D 2AA@:?E66D ?@H >2<6 FA >@C6 E92? 92=7 @7 E96 6:89E\>6>36C 3@2C5 — 2 >2;@C:EJ E92E H@F=5 36 ?66565 E@ 7:C6 '2?56G6?]k^Am
kAm“%96 :?E6?E:@?D @7 E96 8@G6C?@C’D @77:46 :D 4=62C[” D2:5 s@F8 w2JE6C[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C 2E E96 |:DD@FC: pDD@4:2E:@? @7 $49@@= p5>:?:DEC2E@CD] “%96J’C6 ECJ:?8 E@ A@=:E:4:K6 E96 DE2E6 3@2C5 H:E9 E96:C 2AA@:?E66D 2?5 >2<6 E96 564:D:@?D 7@C E96 3@2C5[ 2?5 H6 36=:6G6 E92E E92E’D ?@E E96 C:89E E9:?8 E@ 5@]”k^Am
kAmx? 255:E:@? E@ C2:D:?8 4@?46C?D 23@FE E96 :?56A6?56?46 @7 E96 3@2C5[ E96 2??@F?46>6?E @7 %F6D52J’D 4=@D65 >66E:?8 6=:4:E65 @FEC2865 C6DA@?D6D 7C@> 6=64E65 @77:4:2=D @? 3@E9 D:56D @7 E96 2:D=6 2?5 ?62C=J 6G6CJ >2;@C 65F42E:@? 8C@FA :? E96 DE2E6]k^Am
kAm|2?J @7 E9@D6 8C@FAD — :?4=F5:?8 E96 |:DD@FC: $49@@= q@2C5D’ pDD@4:2E:@?[ |:DD@FC: pDD@4:2E:@? @7 $49@@= p5>:?:DEC2E@CD 2?5 |:DD@FC: $E2E6 %62496CD pDD@4:2E:@? — 2C6 A2CE @7 E96 |:DD@FC: t5F42E:@? #@F?5E23=6[ 2 4@2=:E:@? @7 2DD@4:2E:@?D 7@C>65 E@ DA62< 4@==64E:G6=J @? 65F42E:@? :DDF6D] |6>36CD D2J E96 C@F?5E23=6 92D C624965 @FE E@ E96 8@G6C?@C’D @77:46 >F=E:A=6 E:>6D E@ 5:D4FDD vC6:E6?D’ AC:@C:E:6D[ 3FE E96C6 92D 366? ?@ C6DA@?D6]k^Am
kAm%96 8@G6C?@C’D @77:46 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ >F=E:A=6 42==D 2?5 6>2:=D 7C@> E96 |:DD@FC:2?] '2?56G6? :D ?@E 4@>>6?E:?8 @? E96 D:EF2E:@?[ 2 DA@<6DH@>2? 7@C E96 3@2C5 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“tG6CJ 65F42E:@?2= @C82?:K2E:@? @FE E96C6 92D 4@>6 @FE E@ D2J E92E E9:D :D HC@?8[” r@=F>3:2 !F3=:4 $49@@=D $FA6C:?E6?56?E !6E6C $E:6A=6>2? D2:5] “}@E D@ >F49 3642FD6 E96J =:<6 r@>>:DD:@?6C '2?56G6?[ 2=E9@F89 E96J 5@[ W3FEX 3642FD6 :E’D C62==J 2? 2EE24< @? H92E D9@F=5 36 2? :?56A6?56?E 6?E:EJ] $@ >J 766=:?8 :D[ J@F’G6 8@E 2 rt~ H9@ :D 5@:?8 2 8@@5 ;@3j H9J 5@ J@F 7:C6 96Cn”k^Am
k9cmtE9:42= 4@?46C?Dk^9cm
kAms64256D 28@[ w2JE6C D2:5[ E96 q@2C5 @7 t5F42E:@? H2D @7E6? 4=@D6=J E:65 E@ E96 A@=:E:42= A2CEJ :? A@H6C] %92E 492?865 H96? E96 >@DE C646?E G6CD:@? @7 E96 |:DD@FC: r@?DE:EFE:@? H2D 25@AE65 :? `hcd]k^Am
kAm“xE H2D AFE 324< :?E@ E96 >@C6 :?56A6?56?E DE2E6 E92E :E :D ?@H[ 9@A67F==J 7@C E96 C62D@? 7@C E9:D ?@E E@ 6G6C @44FC[” w2JE6C D2:5] “$@ 96C6 H6 2C6[ 8@:?8 324< 2=>@DE :? 9:DE@CJ[ A@=:E:4:K:?8 E96 DE2E6 3@2C5 7@C A@=:E:42= C62D@?D H96? :E H2D 492?865 E@ AC6G6?E E92E :? E96 7:CDE A=246]”k^Am
kAm}@ >@C6 E92? 7@FC >6>36CD @7 E96 D2>6 A2CEJ 42? D6CG6 @? E96 3@2C5 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6] p?5 H9:=6 E96 8@G6C?@C 2AA@:?ED >6>36CD E@ E96 3@2C5[ 96 E649?:42==J 92D ?@ D2J :? 9:C:?8 @C 7:C:?8 E96 4@>>:DD:@?6C] %92E’D 6?E:C6=J FA E@ E96 3@2C5]k^Am
kAm“x? 2 D6?D6[ 3J 5@:?8 E9:D[ :E’D <:?5 @7 86EE:?8 C:5 @7 E92E 4964< 2?5 32=2?46 E92E H2D :?E6?565 3J E96 =68:D=2EFC6 2?5 E96 4:E:K6?D @7 |:DD@FC:[” #6A] $E6G6 #@36CED[ s\$E] {@F:D[ D2:5]k^Am
kAmvC6:E6?D 92D <6AE E96 A@=:E:42= 32=2?46 :? =:?6 H:E9 E96 7@FC\A6CD@? CF=6i #6AF3=:42?D >2<6 FA 92=7 @7 E96 3@2C5[ 2?5 E96C6 2C6 EH@ s6>@4C2ED 2?5 EH@ x?56A6?56?ED]k^Am
kAmqFE E96 8@G6C?@C’D @77:46 92D G@42= @AA@?6?ED 7C@> E96 v6?6C2= pDD6>3=J @? 6:E96C D:56 @7 E96 2:D=6] %96 9625D @7 E96 $6?2E6 2?5 w@FD6 65F42E:@? 4@>>:EE66D[ 2== #6AF3=:42?D[ HC@E6 2 =6EE6C E@ vC6:E6?D 2?5 E96 3@2C5 42==:?8 E96 677@CED E@ C6>@G6 '2?56G6? “566A=J EC@F3=:?8[” 2?5 D@>6 w@FD6 s6>@4C2ED 92G6 4:E65 A@E6?E:2= =682= 4@?46C?D]k^Am
kAm#646?E G242?4:6D @? E96 3@2C5 82G6 vC6:E6?D E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 2AA@:?E ?6H >6>36CD] %9C66 3@2C5 >6>36CD C624965 E96 6?5 @7 E96:C 6:89E\J62C E6C>D[ 2?5 @?6 C6D:8?65 3642FD6 @7 2 3FDJ H@C< D4965F=6]k^Am
kAm~7 E96 6:89E 2AA@:?E>6?ED vC6:E6?D 92D >256[ @?6 H2D =682==J :?6=:8:3=6 E@ D6CG6[ 2?5 2?@E96C 564=:?65 E96 ?@>:?2E:@?] p E9:C5[ |6=:DD2 v6=?6C[ H2D 2AA@:?E65 E@ 7:?:D9 E96 C6>2:?56C @7 2?@E96C >6>36C’D E6C>[ 3FE vC6:E6?D H:E95C6H 96C ?@>:?2E:@? D6G6C2= H66<D =2E6C] x? 2? 6>2:= D6?E E@ E96 3@2C5 :? $6AE6>36C[ v6=?6C D2:5 96C 2AA@:?E>6?E H2D H:E95C2H? 3642FD6 D96 H@F=5 ?@E 4@>>:E E@ @FDE:?8 '2?56G6? 2E E96 C6BF6DE @7 2? 2:56 7C@> E96 8@G6C?@C’D @77:46]k^Am
kAmy2? |66D[ H9@ D6CG6D 2D G:46 AC6D:56?E @? r@=F>3:2’D D49@@= 3@2C5 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4@=F>3:2>:DD@FC:2?]4@>^?6HD^4@=F>3:2\D49@@=\3@2C5\D\;2?\>66D\E@\=625\DE2E6\3@2C5^2CE:4=60dhad5c3c\c2_3\``6f\gee6\c7ag7e2cbd34]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmAC6D:56?E @7 E96 |:DD@FC: $49@@= q@2C5D’ pDD@4:2E:@?k^2m[ 4@>A2C65 <66A:?8 FA H:E9 vC6:E6?D’ 2AA@:?E>6?ED E@ p33@EE 2?5 r@DE6==@’D “(9@’D @? u:CDE” 3:E]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 366? 2 C6G@=G:?8 5@@C[ 2?5 :E’D ;FDE G6CJ 5:DEC6DD:?8[” D96 D2:5] “p?5 x E9:?< :E’D 5:DEC6DD:?8 7@C 7@=<D :? E96 65F42E:@? 4@>>F?:EJ E@ ?@E <?@H H9J E9:D :D 92AA6?:?8] p?5 x 5@?’E E9:?< E96C6’D C62==J 2? 2?DH6C 2D E@ H9J E9:D :D 92AA6?:?8]”k^Am
k9bmr@?7FD:@? 7C@> 65F42E:@? @C82?:K2E:@?Dk^9bm
kAm!2CE @7 E96 65F42E:@? 4@>>F?:EJ’D 4@?7FD:@? 4@>6D 7C@> D66>:?8=J @G6CH96=>:?8 2AAC@G2= @7 '2?56G6?]k^Am
kAm”x A6CD@?2==J 92G6 >6E 2?5 DA@<6? H:E9 96C @? >F=E:A=6 @442D:@?D 2?5 C62=:K65 E92E 96C >:DD:@? :D E@ AC@G:56 E96 36DE 65F42E:@? E@ 2== DEF56?ED :? E96 DE2E6 @7 |:DD@FC:[ C682C5=6DD @7 H9@ E96J 2C6 @C H96C6 E96J’C6 7C@>[” |66D D2:5] “%92E :D 96C 8@2=[ 2?5 E92E 4@>6D E9C@F89 =@F5 2?5 4=62C] … x 42?’E DA62< 9:89=J 6?@F89 23@FE 96C]”k^Am
kAm$E:6A=6>2? D2:5 '2?56G6? 92D 366? DF446DD7F= :? F?:7J:?8 D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED 24C@DD E96 DE2E6]k^Am
kAm“uC@> >J A6CDA64E:G6 2?5 7C@> >J 4@==628F6D 2C@F?5 E96 DE2E6[ D96’D 2 C62= F?:E6C[ H96E96C J@F’C6 2 DFA6C:?E6?56?E 7C@> 2 CFC2= 5:DEC:4E[ 2? FC32? 5:DEC:4E[ 2 DF3FC32? 5:DEC:4E[” 96 D2:5] “*@F’G6 8@E 2 =@E @7 D>2== 5:DEC:4ED[ 2?5 J@F 42? :>28:?6 E92E E96J 92G6 G6CJ 5:776C6?E ?665D E92? 2 5:DEC:4E =:<6 z2?D2D r:EJ[ r@=F>3:2[ $E] {@F:D] $@ E96 724E E92E D96 92D 925 E92E 23:=:EJ E@ 3C:?8 FD 2== E@86E96C … E92E’D AC6EEJ :>AC6DD:G6]”k^Am
kAm#@36CED 2?5 D6G6C2= 65F42E:@? =6256CD 92G6 DA64F=2E65 E92E E96 8@G6C?@C :D ECJ:?8 E@ C6A=246 '2?56G6? H:E9 D@>6@?6 H9@ H2?ED E@ 6IA2?5 492CE6C D49@@=D] %9:D DF>>6C[ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]DE=E@52J]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^65F42E:@?^8C6:E6?D\@77:46\4@@C5:?2E65\H:E9\42>A2:8?\7F?5\@G6C\E@A\>:DD@FC:\D49@@=D^2CE:4=6TtaTg_Thc4h73726_\23h2\df4a\372h\c75d6c37g24`]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmE96 $E] {@F:D !@DE\s:DA2E49 C6A@CE65k^2m vC6:E6?D FD65 42>A2:8? >@?6J E@ 3C:?8 :? pE=2?E2 D49@@= 25>:?:DEC2E@C z6??6E9 +677[ H9@ 92D 6IA6C:6?46 :? >2?28:?8 492CE6C D49@@=D]k^Am
kAmqFE 3642FD6 E96 C@F?5E23=6 92D ?@E 366? 23=6 E@ >66E H:E9 E96 8@G6C?@C’D @77:46[ |:DD@FC:’D >2;@C 65F42E:@? @C82?:K2E:@?D 92G6 366? =67E :? E96 52C<]k^Am
kAm“%96C6’D 2 =@E @7 4@?7FD:@? 96C6 3642FD6 H6 92G6?’E 962C5 2?J @77:4:2= DE2E6>6?E C62==J 7C@> E96 8@G6C?@C @? H92E :E :D 96’D ECJ:?8 E@ 249:6G6[” D2:5 |6=:DD2 #2?5@=[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 |:DD@FC: $49@@= q@2C5D’ pDD@4:2E:@?] “(6 2C6 >@G:?8 :? E96 C:89E 5:C64E:@? 2D 2 DE2E6] ]]] %9:D :D ?@E E96 E:>6 E@ >2<6 2 492?86 :? =6256CD9:A] !2CE:4F=2C=J W3642FD6X H6 5@?’E 6G6? <?@H H9J]”k^Am
kAm~?6 4@?46C? 23@FE 2 A@E6?E:2= 492?86 :? =6256CD9:A 4@>6D 7C@> E96 EH@ J62CD DA6?E 492?8:?8 E96 D49@@= 244C65:E2E:@? DJDE6> :? |:DD@FC:] x>A=6>6?E:?8 E9:D DJDE6> :D @?6 @7 E96 4@>>:DD:@?6C’D >2:? 5FE:6D[ #2?5@= D2:5]k^Am
kAm“~FC H@CCJ :D E92E H6’G6 925 2== @7 E9:D :?AFE[ 2== @7 E9:D 7665324< 7C@> A6@A=6 2== @G6C E96 DE2E6[ 2?5 E92E 2 492?86 @7 5:C64E:@? :? =6256CD9:A 4@F=5 E9C@H 2== E9@D6 J62CD @7 H@C< :? ;6@A2C5J 2D H6 >@G6 :?E@ E96 ?6IE A92D6 @7 E96 D49@@= :>AC@G6>6?E AC@8C2>[” w2JE6C D2:5]k^Am
kAmpD 7@C H92E E92E A@E6?E:2= 492?86 4@F=5 >62? 7@C D49@@=D :? r@=F>3:2[ $E:6A=6>2? 2?5 |66D D2:5 :E :D DE:== F?4=62C]k^Am
kAm“%96 F?<?@H?D 2C6 >@C6 5:DEFC3:?8 E92? 2?JE9:?8 6=D6[” $E:6A=6>2? D2:5]k^Am
kAmk6>m$FA6CG:D:?8 65:E@C :Dk^6>m k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4@=F>3:2>:DD@FC:2?]4@>^FD6CD^AC@7:=6^>9@CG:E^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm|2C< w@CG:Ek^2mk^6>mk6>m[ k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i9@CG:E>o>:DD@FC:]65FQm9@CG:E>o>:DD@FC:]65Fk^2m]k^6>mk^Am