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Lawmakers Are Still Staying Out Of The Ritz Fight

Legislative leaders say they are reluctant for the General Assembly to intervene in the fight between 
State Superintendent Glenda Ritz and the State Board of Education. That’s despite a flare-up this week in the ongoing conflict.
 
Superintendent Ritz Wednesday accused Governor Pence’s new education agency of trying to oust her as chair of the State Board. The allegations came almost immediately after a mediation session between the State Board and Ritz that failed to yield many positive results.

Yet House Speaker Brian Bosma says he’s still hoping mediation will improve communication and dialogue between the two sides. 

Bosma says “I don’t think it’s the right time to make any significant revisions in the Superintendent’s authorities right now. I think we need to find common ground, move things forward and I’m going to stand in the way of any very serious effort to do that at this point. And I haven’t heard anyone talk about it.”

Senate Education Committee Chair Dennis Kruse says he’d prefer to stay out of the conflict, but won’t rule it out entirely. He says  if it continues on when session’s going on and it doesn’t look like a resolution is going to happen during our session, then as a last resort I think the legislature may take action on a couple of the items before we get out in mid-March.”

Kruse says potential action does not include removing Ritz as State Board chair. 

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.