Top Ohio School Officials 'Surprised' By Governor's Proposal

By: Associated Press | NBC4i.com
Published: February 09, 2008

COLUMBUS -- The chief of the Ohio Department of Education said Friday she plans to keep moving forward despite criticism from Gov. Ted Strickland and his proposal to take over the department.

"I love my work, I love this state and I'm confident this will all work out," Superintendent Susan Tave Zelman told The Plain Dealer for a story posted on its Web site. "I'm not going to stop until Ohio is seen as the best state in the United States in terms of offering a world-class education."

Strickland, a Democrat, called the department "unwieldy" in his State of the State speech Wednesday and proposed taking control away from its board of elected and appointed members.

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"The most important duty of the state should not be overseen by an unwieldy department with splintered accountability," Strickland said. Zelman, who attended the speech in the state House chamber, rushed away quickly after the event without speaking to reporters.

State Board of Education President Jennifer Sheets said she was surprised by Strickland's proposal.

"I have had a fairly good professional and personal relationship with the governor, who was my congressman," she said. "I'm disappointed he didn't see a need to contact me ahead of time."

Strickland's plan would put the department under the control of a director of education who would be appointed by the governor and serve in his Cabinet. The role of the state superintendent and the State Board of Education would be determined by the director. Ohio now has a mix of governor-appointed and elected board members with a schools chief appointed by the board.

Zelman begins her 10th year as superintendent in March. She said she disagrees with the governor's proposal, but won't take it personally.

"I was very surprised," she said, adding that an aide showed her portions of the speech Tuesday evening. She said she and the governor have not spoken since the speech.

Sheets said she sent Strickland a letter Friday, outlining her concerns about the proposal.

"We need collaboration and cooperation, but he doesn't necessarily have to be in control," she said.

Zelman and Sheets said the state superintendent should remain apolitical and be hired by the nonpartisan board.

"The governor and the legislature are concerned with the welfare of many, many issues," Zelman said. "In reality, they don't have the time to study, in public, the complexities of education issues."

Information from The Plain Dealer.