Too many MCs, not enough mics

The state Department of Public Instruction needs one boss, who has the last word. That’s the advice that the consulting firm Evergreen Solutions will give to the Joint Legislative Committee on Tuesday.

We are hearing that there are few surprises in the full report, which will be released Tuesday morning. But the findings could put a finer point on a complaint that education advocates have been making for years. It is not clear whether the governor, the state board, the state board chair, or the deputy superintendent of public instruction is running the show. And it makes little sense that the state superintendent, who is elected by the public, has the least power of the bunch.

Tuesday’s discussion should be interesting considering that it was the legislature that demoted the superintendent and stripped the position of its authority back in the mid ‘90s.

I plan to get to the meeting early and grab a good seat.