Education group to get more oversight
Ken Dixon
Published 8:56 pm, Saturday, June 1, 2013
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| A little-known organization that was used by the state education commissioner Stefan Pryo to circumvent state bidding requirements last year would have several new layers of oversight and transparency under legislation that awaits action in the House. New State Department of Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor speaks at a news conference to announce his appointment the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, Conn., Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011. Photo: Jessica Hill, Associated Press |
HARTFORD -- A little-known organization that was used by the state education commissioner to circumvent state bidding requirements last year would have several new layers of oversight and transparency under legislation that awaits action in the House.
The bill unanimously passed the Senate late Thursday, after Sen. Andrea L. Stillman, D-Waterford, co-chairman of the legislative Education Committee, recalled a "very alarming" report by state auditors last February about the State Education Resource Center.
The auditors' investigation was prompted by a whistleblower complaint after Hearst Connecticut Newspapers reported last year that the Middletown-based SERC approved $250,000 in consultant contracts without competitive bidding.
Stillman said the bill sends "a powerful message" to state Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor and the state Department of Education, which partially funds SERC.
Pryor last year described SERC as a nonprofit agency,
Read more: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Education-group-to-get-more-oversight-4568983.php#ixzz2V49AoHu8