Bevin changes order on education boards under threat of Beshear lawsuit
Under threat of lawsuit, Gov. Matt Bevin on Friday modified a controversial executive order that had given him more power over several education boards, panels and committees in the state.
Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear on Thursday had postponed a lawsuit against Bevin over Bevin’s order to dissolve and reorganize several state education boards to which Bevin appoints members.
Beshear, a Democrat, warned the governor, a Republican, on June 7 that he would sue Bevin after seven days if Bevin didn’t rescind the June 2 executive order.
But Beshear decided Thursday to wait on any lawsuit after his office received word from Bevin late Wednesday that he might alter his order by Friday.
Beshear spokesman Terry Sebastian said, “We will review the executive order and will get back on Monday once we have had a chance to carefully review.”
In Bevin’s amended order Friday, one change dealt with the number of voting members on the State Advisory Council for Exceptional Children. It puts the minimum number of voting members at 15 and the maximum at 21. The majority of those appointed to the board will be persons with disabilities or parents of children with disabilities ages birth through 26.
Prior to Bevin’s June 2 order, the advisory council was made up of 26 members with often duplicative educational backgrounds.
Education and Workforce Development Secretary Hal Heiner said the new order “strengthens what was already a huge step forward for Kentucky education.
“As stated in the executive order, the reorganization enhances the variety of educational backgrounds and specialties represented, including participation by and collaboration with the Council on Postsecondary Education, the Education Professional Standards Board, the School Curriculum Assessment and Accountability Council and the Department of Education.”
Jack Brammer: (502) 227-1198, @BGPolitics
This story was originally published June 16, 2017 at 5:30 PM with the headline "Bevin changes order on education boards under threat of Beshear lawsuit."