Sen. Ward: “I’ve heard a lot from my constituents”
Dave Solomon adds important perspective on failure of the DOE reorganization amendment:
A plan to give newly appointed Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut sweeping powers to reorganize the state Department of Education was defeated 3-2 in the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday.
Republican Sen. Ruth Ward of Stoddard voted with Democrats David Watters of Dover and Jay Kahn of Keene to defeat the reorganization plan in favor of a study committee to review the idea.
“I’ve heard a lot from my constituents, and from the requests I’ve had and the concerns that have been expressed to me … that is why I am voting this way,” Ward said….
HB 356 now moves to the Senate for a vote without the Edelblut reorganization plan attached.
Testifying in support of the measure, Greg Moore, state director of the conservative policy group Americans for Prosperity, said the changes proposed by Edelblut would give him the same authority already enjoyed by the commissioner of Health and Human Services.
“Education is the second largest agency in state government and (the education commissioner) deserves the same authority,” he said.
Bonnie Dunham: “Under the current organizational structure,…for students with disabilities, outcomes are spectacular.”
Bonnie Dunham of Merrimack identified herself as the mother of a child with disabilities who has had a good education in New Hampshire public schools.
“Under the current organizational structure, New Hampshire schools are ranked highest in the nation, and for students with disabilities, outcomes are spectacular,” she said. “Could things be improved? Absolutely. But only after thoughtful and careful consideration. There is no real emergency.”
Reagan attributed the defeat to an aggressive campaign by what he called “the education establishment.”…
Source: Edelblut plan to reorganize Education Department stalls in committee | New Hampshire
