The Texas Senates recent rejection of Don McLeroy as chairman of the State Board of Education (SBOE) has been surrounded by a flurry of comments and controversy from both the liberal and conservative sides of the aisle. Whatever the reasons both sides arguments unquestionably brought (unnecessary) attention to a controversial leader.
Conservative groups contend that McLeroy was misunderstood by Democrats and that he has been judged for his religious views. His opponents argue that McLeroy has been a poor leader of the SBOE someone who put his philosophical ideals ahead of what was best for Texas school children.
The truth is likely somewhere in the mix.
Either way suffice to say the operational and management style of the often-controversial SBOE changed substantially when Gov. Perry named McLeroy as chair choosing him from amongst the 15 member SBOE to replace the previous and term-limited chair Geraldine Tincy" Miller of Dallas. Miller a long-serving conservative SBOE member from Dallas had tactically maneuvered and steered the SBOE thru its constantly choppy waters during her two terms a chairman.
Because McLeroys appointment was made after the Legislature had adjourned two years ago confirmation during this years session was required.
Since McLeroy became chairman of the SBOE the highly respected public perception of the SBOE has languished. Subsequently prognosticators in Austin in the Capitol and in education circles around the state generally expect Perrys next choice for SBOE chair to be a more of a statesman.
However conservatives are urging the governor to select an appointee from the group of board members that share the same ideology as McLeroy.
As an admittedly strong conservative McLeroy used his position to push some controversial issues most notably recommending that the board weaken the theory of evolution and add creationism and intelligent design into the States science TEKS.
At the end of the day a majority of the Board voted not to accept the recommendations though members who opposed it have received unabashed criticism from the single issue religious far right.
Similarly last year when the Board adopted the new English Language Arts Reading Curriculum Standards members were surprised when McLeroy allowed an outside substitute document to replace the ELAR Writing Committee drafts.
While the Board finally worked through this controversy and the result was a much stronger & scientifically researched based English Language Arts Reading phonics-based curriculum key stakeholders had been mistreated and the Senate confirmation battle was joined.
Add to this a baffling and what is perceived as an (ongoing) SBOE-instigated battle between board conservatives in charge of managing the Permanent School Fund (better known as the PSF or Childrens Textbook Fund) and Commissioner Jerry Patterson at the General Land Office (GLO) and politicos statewide were often left little alternative to but to scratch their heads asking What in the worlds going on over there?" Patterson & the GLO staff manage a smaller but significantly profitable real estate portfolio for the PSF which the SBOE argues should be under its management control.
Always under some degree of criticism from the legislature one of the significant results of these controversies was an even greater than usual affront on the boards ability to set reasonable standards for public education with no less that 15 bills filed this past session to strip or dramatically peel back the Boards duties.
After fending off the legislatures loss-of-confidence message in the form of legislation to eradicate the board altogether moving further in the legislative process than ever before SBOE conservatives appeared to be caught off-gaurd by McLeroys rejection saying he had been told by Democratic Senators his nomination would be supported.
Although the legislatures relationship with the board has never been ideal times were far better prior to McLeroy.
McLeroys predecessor Geraldine Tincy" Miller also a Republican and an educational reading specialist made it a priority to work together with legislative leaders by inviting members of the House and Senate Education Committees to come before the Board for open dialogue.
Additionally she often took suggestions from the legislature i.e. shepherding the successfully implementation of the Senates directive to get the SBOE out of the external management business for the Permanent School Fund a goal she accomplished within six months.
Although tactically Miller operated with greater success and subtlety she was at times also at odds with the legislature especially when protecting the original intent of the Permanent School Fund to ensure textbooks were funded.
During the 2005 session computer giants were trying to convince the legislature that a laptop was a book leading Miller to request (and receive) an Attorney Generals opinion on the definition of a textbook. Viewed by education experts from across the country as being one of the best selection & curriculum alignment processes in the nation the SBOE for years had fought to define use of PSF dollars for textbooks and content" whether presented in traditional print or in a digital form of a CD/DVD.
One of Millers key accomplishments pulled the SBOE to a unanimous 15-0 vote urging the Governor to fund the books leading to $700 million dollars of textbooks being funded by executive order of the Governor after the 2005 Legislature failed to adequately address the funding issue.
With McLeroys rejection a rarity in and of itself for the Texas Senate to turn out a nominee of the states chief executive Governor Perry now has a difficult decision on his hands.
As he anticipates his campaign against Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison a more moderate Republican some believe Perry will need to cater to the right wing faction of his party. Others contend Perry will avoid announcing his choice for the appointment until after the primary takes place in order to circumvent the issue altogether.
One thing is for certain: As Governor Perry considers his next choice for chair of the State Board of Education he will have two contrasting examples of Republican to study & select from both of whom supported a conservative agenda both of whom always kept excellence in education and the school childrens best interests as their primary objective but whose strategic implementation styles varied sufficiently enough to serve as case-studies in government management for generations to come.
