Feathers ruffled

Liam Julian / March 24, 2011

Some are less than pleased with Florida's governor, Rick Scott, who, it seems likely, let it be known to certain persons that he wanted a new state education commissioner. Eric Smith, the current commissioner, resigned this week, noting that he was leaving so Scott could have input ?on the type of leader to pursue his goals for education.? But there is dissent among those who sit on Florida's Board of Education, which appoints the commissioner (confused?); board Chairman T. Willard Fair of Miami, for instance, called Scott's actions on the issue ?distressing,? noting that Scott, since his inauguration in January, had not even met with Smith. Fair resigned from the board, and in so doing wrote, ?As my final act as Chairman, I reject Commissioner Smith's resignation.?

?Liam Julian, Bernard Lee Schwartz Policy Fellow

Category: Governance