Democrat Glenda Ritz, GOP appointees tussle for control of State Board of Education
Tension between Democrat state superintendent Glenda Ritz and the Republican-appointed Indiana State Board of Education exploded into a direct confrontation Wednesday over who controls the board’s meeting agenda.
Before the board could hear a recommendation about the state’s troubled A to F school rating system, Ritz, who serves as the board chair, had sharp exchanges with board members Dan Elsener, a self-described independent, and Tony Walker, a Democrat.
Wednesday’s trouble began when board member Sarah O’Brien’s request to hear a staff report was denied by Ritz, who said the matter could be addressed later in the agenda when staff was scheduled to speak.
That prompted Elsener to make a motion to change the agenda, which was quickly seconded. But Ritz held her ground.
“We have a lot of work to do today,” she said. “The motion is out of order. I am not