Kentucky law is supposed to insulate the state’s education commissioner and board from politics. But the position has become a political battleground in recent years as governors and lawmakers fight over control.
Kentucky law is supposed to insulate the state’s education commissioner and board from politics. But the position has become a political battleground in recent years as governors and lawmakers fight over control.
Credit Ryland Barton
A bill banning governors from reorganizing the Kentucky Board of Education passed out of a legislative committee on Tuesday morning.
House Bill 178 comes more than a year after Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear replaced the entire board of education as one of his first acts in office.
The measure would also require the racial, political party and gender makeup of the board to be proportional to the state’s representation.
Rep. Steve Sheldon, a Republican from Bowling Green, said the bill would prevent Kentucky Board of Education members from being treated like “political pawns.”
“They should never be shuffled around to meet some agenda. We trust those people that are appointed on there and they do a great job,” Sheldon said.