Wisconsin’s top education official says a Republican effort to make his elected position a partisan appointment is an “attack at the heart of our democracy and our state’s history.”
Speaking to reporters following his annual state of education speech at the Capitol, state schools Superintendent Tony Evers said state schools need an independent voice to advocate for effective education policies.
“If I’m going to be an independent voice for our children, then I think it should be an elected position. Eight-hundred thousand people voted in the last election.That’s not chump change,” he said. “I think that’s a fair number of people. And they have a right to judge me and our systems.”
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Evers is up for re-election in 2017. That’s also the soonest the constitutional change could be put before voters for approval. A campaign consultant said Evers plans to seek a third term.
Evers called the proposed amendment a divisive moved designed re-politicize the battle around public education.
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