Education Policy Could Face Major Changes Under McCrory | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: The author of this political post Barry Smith, who is an associate editor to the Carolina Journal, John Hood Publisher.

Republicans soon will comprise a majority of State Board of Education members

    RALEIGH     With the election of a Republican governor and supermajorities in both chambers of the General Assembly, observers expect to see changes in the state's approach toward education.

    GOP wins in November could have an immediate effect on PreK-12 public schools. While Democratic incumbent June Atkinson retained her position as superintendent of public instruction, Republicans are set to have a majority of members on the State Board of Education by spring.

    Republican Gov.-elect Pat McCrory will have the opportunity to appoint six new members by March 31 to the board that governs the state's public school system. Republican Dan Forest, who was elected lieutenant governor, also sits on the board, giving Republicans and Republican appointees seven of the 13 seats.

    "The tone is going to be set by whoever McCrory appoints as chairman of the state board," said Terry Stoops, director of research and education studies at the John Locke Foundation. "If he appoints a reformer, there's a likelihood of disagreement among the board members. If he appoints someone who is more moderate, then expect incremental changes, but nothing dramatic."

    So far, McCrory hasn't floated any candidates as potential selections to the board, let alone suggesting who would lead it.
Pat McCrory points, hopefully, to a better way: Above.     photo by Stan Deatherage
    "Right now, no decisions have been made," said Ricky Diaz, a spokesman for McCrory's transition team. "I don't really have any names for you because no promises have been made to anyone."

    As for the superintendent, Atkinson said she is ready to adapt to changes on the board.

    "I am optimistic that the governor-elect will appoint qualified people to serve as members of the State Board of Education," Atkinson said. "I believe I will be able to work with the people he appoints."

    The N.C. Constitution gives the governor the authority to appoint 11 of the 13 members of the board. The governor is required to get confirmation by the General Assembly on the appointees. They serve eight-year, overlapping terms.

    The lieutenant governor and state treasurer round out the members of the board.

    The terms of three current members -- board Chairman Bill Harrison, Jean Woolard of Plymouth, and Robert Thomas Speed of Boone -- have ended. The terms of three more -- Shirley Harris of Troy, Chris Greene of High Point, and Melissa Bartlett of Raleigh -- expire March 31.

    Stoops said that in recent history, the board chairman has driven the agenda.

    "While I would welcome changes to the way that the state board conducts its business, I suspect it will remain a chairman-led group, where the board looks to the chairman for its direction," Stoops said.

    Stoops said it would be refreshing to see a board that would be open to airing different views.

    Stoops also credits Atkinson with being adaptable and said that there will be points of agreement between her and the General Assembly.

    "June Atkinson has always been a proponent of vocational education," Stoops said. "That will be one of the priorities of the legislature going into the next session."

    Atkinson said she has worked with three different board chairmen, with each having different modes of operation.

    "And I plan to adjust to the role that the next state board chairman wants to play," Atkinson said.

    Atkinson said she expects to avoid a repeat of problems that occurred when there was friction between former state Superintendent Bob Etheridge and the board appointed by the last Republican governor, Jim Martin.

    She said that some of the contention back then was the result of the state board wanting to appoint staff members to serve its own needs.

    Atkinson said that a recent state superior court case has defined the roles of the state board and the state superintendent.

    "It's my intention to value the role of the state board," Atkinson said. "It's anticipated that I will get that mutual respect as far as our roles."

    Atkinson also noted that she was a staff member at the Department of Public Instruction during the time tensions emerged between the state board and Etheridge.

    "As a staff member, I had to work with the appointees of Gov. Martin," Atkinson said. "I'm not saying it was easy, but I found that we had a congenial relationship."

    Atkinson added that it is the job of the superintendent and her staff to bring information and recommendations to the state board about state educational policy.