Two Republican Ohio State Senators said that the recent resignation of the interim superintendent of Public Instruction is an opportunity to overhaul the state education system and the Board of Education.
On Friday, Ohio’s interim state superintendent, Stephanie Siddens, announced that she is leaving her job after nearly two years and is set to take a job as deputy superintendent of the Upper Arlington City School District.
Since the end of last year, Republican leaders in the House and Senate have pushed legislation, Senate Bill (SB) 1, to remove the majority of the power from the state board and superintendent and instead would create a new administrative division under the governor’s office, and reduce the duties of the State Board of Education.
The legislation push came after Democrats gained control of three out of the five open state school board seats in the November general election.
Despite the proposal’s failure to pass at the end of the previous year, lawmakers swiftly reintroduced it in the new General Assembly in January.
According to State Senator Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin), Siddens’ resignation highlights that the governing structure at the Ohio Department of Education is flawed.
“I have nothing but respect for Interim Superintendent Siddens and appreciate her service as acting superintendent. It is clear however that the governing structure at the Ohio Department of Education does not work. The State Board of Education has had two years to hire a full-time leader and has failed. We are at a critical crossroads with far too many students falling through the cracks. I urge the General Assembly to move Senate Bill 1 for our children and our constituents. If we work together we can move Ohio forward,” Reineke said.
State Senator Andrew Brenner (R-Powell) said Siddens’ resignation provides a new opportunity to immediately pass SB 1.
“Dr. Siddens did a good job and we wish her well. This provides an opportunity for a new process and accountability that will be established under Senate Bill 1, which we need to pass immediately,” Brenner said.
SB 1 would create a “state cabinet-level agency,” the Department of Education and Workforce, with the Division of Primary and Secondary Education and the Division of Career Technical Education inside its boundaries. Two people on the governor’s Executive Workforce Board would direct those divisions.
The bill would reduce the State Board of Education’s role in choosing the state’s superintendent of public instruction, implementing and enforcing rules on teacher licensure, handling educator and staff conduct cases, and considering school territory transfers as part of the bill. Outside, the General Assembly would decide the board’s additional roles and duties.
According to Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima), overhauling the education department is a priority. However, it is not part of the House Republican Caucus’ list of 12 priority bills it released at the beginning of the session
The Ohio Chamber of Commerce, along with a number of other business associations, the Ohio Association for Career-Technical Education, and the Ohio Association of Career-Technical Superintendents, all supported this proposal.
The League of Women Voters, the Ohio Federation of Teachers, and several local school boards have voiced opposition to the bill.
The Senate already passed SB 1, and it’s currently under review in the House Education Committee, where it’s had one hearing.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
