Again, Kentucky watches from the sidelines

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While Kentuckians have to listen to excuses about why our state won't move forward with innovative education solutions, Louisiana's governor is displaying leadership and taking measures to empower education professionals with the authority they need to make significant reforms in their school systems.

From the Pelican Post:

The existing law includes language that prohibits school board members from exercising undue influence over superintendents when they make personnel decisions. Moreover, the legislation seeks to insulate superintendents from board politics by requiring a 2/3 vote of school board members to terminate the district leader mid-contract.

Union officials have been critical of the bill but Carter sees cause for encouragement. Instead of school boards constantly “looking over their shoulder,” superintendents and principals now have greater flexibility, Carter explained.

Kentucky is still hanging on to the School Based Decision Making council model that ties the hands of principals and superintendents by putting curriculum and hiring decisions in the hands of teachers and parents who, while undoubtedly have great intentions, are not education administration professionals.

Gov. Jindal has called for additional policy changes that would “get school boards out of the hiring and firing business,”

Kentucky needs this type of vision and leadership.