Local superintendents express worry on state board of education
BRANSON MO NEWS: Area superintendents are asking Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens to visit area concerns amid at the state board of education.
Both Branson’s Brad Swofford and Hollister’s Brian Wilson were among the 77 Missouri superintendents who signed their name to a letter that appeared in the Springfield News-Leader on Nov. 17 expressing concern with actions taken by Gov. Eric Greitens on the state board of education.
“We are deeply concerned,” the letter reads, “Recent actions taken by Governor Greitens and his team send a clear message: Missouri faces a drastic reshaping of our education landscape.”
According to Swofford, his main concern centers around the amount of involvement from the governor’s office on the Missouri Board of Education.
“The major concern we have is the amount of involvement the governor has decided to get in with regards to the state board of education, which is supposed to remain independent,” Swofford said. “There’s been so much involvement these last few months, and that’s been really concerning.”
Concerns follow after a vote to remove the state’s commissioner of education, Margie Vandeven. The vote ultimately failed, with four votes for and four against.
Both Swofford and Wilson expressed their support for Commissioner Vandeven.
“While we might not agree 100 percent on every issue, one could not question her passion for education and love of children,” Wilson said.
Swofford said there is concern about a push for a “one size fits all” mentality that doesn’t take into account the needs of local districts. Specifically, Swofford said there is a push toward charter schools and a voucher system.
“We have needs in southwest Missouri that don’t occur in the urban areas of St. Louis and Kansas City and vice versa,” he said.
“A significant legislative push last year was charter school expansion and …
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