Gov. Eric Greitens is on a quest to oust Missouri's commissioner of education, Dr. Margie Vandeven. Though he hasn't stated outright his intentions, over the course of six months he has appointed five new members to the state Board of Education whose ideologies are in line with his own.
One of the governor's original appointees, Eddy Justice of Poplar Bluff, said removing Vandeven is the first step toward education reform in Missouri schools. Poplar Bluff R-1 Superintendent Scott Dill disagrees, suggesting the decision is hasty and will likely have a negative impact on kids.
The eight member state Board met last week and after a 4-4 vote, did not have enough support to remove the commissioner. Following the meeting, Greitens released a statement expressing his disappointment, claiming "the system works for bureaucrats who get paid real well, but it fails too many students, families and teachers."
During his gubernatorial campaign, Greitens spoke in favor of bringing more charter schools to Missouri and accepted contributions from like-minded supporters, including Betsy DeVoss, who later became the U.S. Secretary of Education. Vandeven, who was appointed in Jan. 2015, has worked to "level the playing field," by applying pressure to charter school sponsors with a goal of improving their quality. It has become clear Greitens hopes to replace her with a fellow proponent of charter school expansion.
The next state Board of Education meeting is Friday during which this issue will again be discussed and the controversy will continue.
Dill said the recent appointments appear, from his perspective, to be a means to an end that is not aligned with the goals of the board or Missouri's nearly one million students.
Justice said his reason for voting to remove the commissioner is based on, what he thinks, is a need for cultural change at the state level.
"The only way to truly change the direction of the education bureaucracy in Missouri is to change the culture of the organization," he said. "The best way to accomplish that is to begin with new leadership."
Justice said "on average, over 60 percent of Missouri's fourth and eighth graders do not read proficiently."
"This is a trend that is not limited to reading," he said. "This is not indicative of every school district but is a state average for which we must not settle. Unfortunately, this is not a situation we are trending out of. It has become the status quo and must not be accepted."
Dill said he feels Vandeven's removal is unwarranted, as she has spent two years working on new initiatives that have yet to take effect. He suggests that if the board succeeds, her removal could severely disrupt education in Missouri for the next several years.
"We look to the department of elementary and secondary education (DESE) to provide leadership and vision for our schools," Dill said, adding that it's difficult to predict what the outcome of her removal would be, as the governor has not been forthcoming with hopes for the end result.
"We are in the midst of significant revisions to standards, assessments, and the evaluation protocols for all schools," Dill continued. "A change in leadership could, potentially, delay those processes, which I consider vital to the success of our schools throughout the state."
Dill said despite the heated political atmosphere surrounding the board's actions, he will continue to support the commissioner, citing a shared vision regarding student needs.
"Very often those in positions of leadership use their authority to promote a personal agenda," Dill said. "Our current commissioner talks with us, not to us, or at us. She listens to our feedback and is willing to work collaboratively to address the needs of learners."
Dill said he has seen an outpouring of support for Vandeven from educators statewide and he believes board members "are acutely aware of public opinion on this issue."
Organizations representing Missouri educators have spoken out against the governor's agenda. In a joint statement from the Missouri National Education Association, Missouri State Teachers Association, and the Missouri Association of School Administrators, representatives applauded the board's efforts for continuing to support the commissioner after last week's vote.
"Today, the State Board of Education, despite a majority of the members being appointed by Gov. Greitens, continued to exercise the independence from political pressure that Missourians expect," the statement said.
The Missouri School Boards' Association issued a press release the same day.
"We are very pleased the State Board of Education has exercised appropriate authority by declining to make a hasty decision to remove the commissioner of education from her position," said MSBA Executive Director Melissa Randol.
The MSBA statement also said all five of the newly appointed state Board of Education members still require confirmation by the Senate when it reconvenes in January. Senate Education Committee Chair and former educator Gary Romine reportedly said it is unlikely appointees who support the commissioner's removal will be granted Senate approval.
In response to Romine's statement, Justice said while he understands the senator's position, it has no impact on his stance.
"I made a commitment when I was appointed to do the best I could for students of Missouri," Justice said. "Making any decision based on what would be best for my Senate confirmation, rather than what is best for Missouri's children, would be a violation of my commitment."
Justice said he has spoken with a large number of teachers and administrators, both locally and from across the state.
"I have listened to what they have to say and appreciate their input," he said. "I truly believe Mr. Dill and I agree when it comes to what we are trying to accomplish, and even when we disagree on the path to accomplish that goal, we work together well trying to attain common ground."
According to Dill, who has worked in public education for 22 years, the current situation is unique.
"Throughout my career, the work of the state board has been mostly tangential to the work I have engaged in as a professional educator," he said. "Now, however, the state board is dominating the headlines related to education. I believe members of any representative board have an obligation to those served. Ultimately, however, they have the mandate to do what they feel is best for the children throughout our state."
Regarding charter schools, Dill said he is "obviously and unapologetically a biased proponent of public schools," and while he agrees there are some excellent charter schools in the state, he thinks they are the exception rather than the rule.
"I have strong opinions on the use of public dollars to service institutions that are not held to the same accountability standards, or required to service the needs of all students," Dill said. "Our public schools were established to service a common good for the citizens of this great republic. We offer the best we have to every student who walks through our doors, not just those who can afford it."
Meanwhile, Justice said it is his job on the state board to use the policies provided by the legislature effectively and efficiently.
"On a personal level, I believe charter schools have a place in our society and when implemented properly can be a very valuable part," he said. "They are not an end-all solution to our educational issues but are a piece of the puzzle."
Justice added that charter schools "deserve the opportunity to be held accountable on a level playing field with traditional public schools."
Dill said Vandeven's removal is also concerning because it could ultimately result in fewer resources, which are finite, to service the needs of traditional public school students. In his statement, Greitens attacked the usage of state funding by "insiders and bureaucrats," stating, "Missouri administrator pay has been increasing more than twice as fast as teacher pay. Several administrators make more than $250,000 a year."
The figures for administrators in Poplar Bluff are not that high. Dill currently makes $125,000 annually and said he has turned down two salary increases during his time as a district superintendent.
Justice said he thinks there are many school districts across the state adequately meeting student needs and agrees they should be supported. However, he would ultimately like to see all districts "measure up."
"We cannot afford for any of our Missouri children to not have the opportunity to succeed, and that opportunity comes from a quality education," Justice said.
Dill said this controversy is taking light away from accomplishments happening within Missouri schools every day.
"Personally, my politics begin and end with what is best for my kids," he said. "This political quagmire is not good for kids."