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Another Committee Votes Against Ritz Leading State Board

Elle Moxley
/
StateImpact Indiana

For the second time in a week, a legislative committee has taken a step toward removing State Superintendent Glenda Ritz as chair of the State Board of Education.

The Senate Rules Committee voted 7-4 along political party lines for the bill late Monday which its sponsor, Sen. Travis Holdman (R-Markle) said would help end the friction between the only Democrat holding elective statewide office and a board made up of appointees from Republican governors.

The Senate bill goes farther than the House version, changing the makeup of the State Board in addition to having board members elect their own chair.

The board is currently comprised of Ritz and ten members appointed by either Mike Pence or Mitch Daniels, no more than six of whom can be from one political party.

Holdman‘s bill would shrink the board to nine members - the state Superintendent, four appointees from the governor and one appointee each from the Republican and Democratic leaders of the House and Senate.

The House bill, which was approved by the Education Committee 8-3, only changes the method of electing the chair of the board.

Ritz has long accused Governor Pence and his supporters of trying to take over her Department of Education, and she has said several times there is no reason to change the law that automatically has the superintendent chair the State Board in the middle of her term.

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