Dive Brief:
- Thursday's Indiana State Board of Education meeting may be the last before a major shake-up.
- While legislators delayed a contentious vote that would have stripped Democratic state schools Superintendent Glenda Ritz of her elected seat on the board, other membership shifts are expected.
- A bill approved last week takes away two of Gov. Mike Pence's 10 board appointments.
Dive Insight:
While state law limits the number of Republicans Gov. Mike Pence can add to the board, the Washington Times reports that even the Democrats he is choosing seem to align with his beliefs.
The Indiana education battles have been going for some time now, focused largely on the inability of Pence and Ritz to see eye-to-eye. What's been problematic for many, however, is the fact that Pence has tried to push out or limit the power of Ritz, potentially replacing her with people he appoints. That Ritz was chosen by voters for her position could be seen by those who elected her as a slap in the face.