Dive Brief:
- Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas is asking a judge to weigh in on the recent relocation of the state's board of education to the governor's executive tower.
- By moving from the state's Education Department, the board is out of Douglas's direct oversight, which her attorney says is unlawful.
- In addition to visiting Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Patricia Starr, Douglas sent letters to the 10 board members informing them that if they don't return, they risk being fired.
Dive Insight:
The situation is an interesting one, especially given the fact that it has led to a lot of the tension seen between Douglas and Gov. Doug Ducey, as well as the rest of the board.
A big point of contention between the two sides revolves around who has the authority to fire board members. Earlier this year, Douglas wanted to fire Executive Director Christine Thompson and her assistant, but Ducey objected.
Currently, all 10 of the board members with the exception of Douglas were handpicked by Ducey, so many of them feel allegiance to him first and foremost. It also means that Douglas has less overall political sway over the board — which could be a reason why it was ultimately relocated.