Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck News - Superintendent change faces challenge

Superintendent change faces challenge

Apr 10, 2007 - 04:09:28 CDT

By JONATHAN RIVOLI
Bismarck Tribune

A proposal to repeal a longstanding law that requires North Dakota's state superintendent to be a certified teacher resulted in one of the most bitterly partisan fights of the 2007 legislative session.

Over Democratic objections, Republicans pushed the repeal through both chambers on party-line votes. Gov. John Hoeven signed it last week.

But the fight is far from over. In fact, if Mandan businessman Paul Wilkins has anything to do with it, it has just begun.

Wilkins is the main force behind an effort to get an initiated constitutional measure on the 2008 ballot that would add the teaching requirement to North Dakota's Constitution. If it prevails, the effort would supersede the Legislature's actions starting with the 2012 election.

"I am really upset with this situation and don't think it's good for education," Wilkins said.

A Democrat and father of two, Wilkins is owner of PWI Credit Services in Mandan. He ran unsuccessfully for a state House seat last fall.

Starting last week, he has spent four to five hours a day lining up volunteers to collect enough signatures to get the measure on the 2008 election ballot. He will need 25,688 signatures by 90 days before the election, according to North Dakota secretary of state's office.

Wilkins said he came up with the idea on his own after the Legislature passed the repeal.

"I don't want some businessman telling my teachers how to teach my kids," Wilkins said. "They don't know what it's like."

The state superintendent runs North Dakota's Department of Public Instruction, a state agency charged with administering state aid and education policy. It is officially a nonpartisan position, but both political parties issue letters of support to their favored candidate.

In 2004, longtime State Superintendent Wayne Sanstead won re-election without endorsement from either party. Sanstead, a former teacher, legislator and Democratic lieutenant governor, said he's unsure whether he'll run in 2008.

Sanstead opposed the repeal, testifying against it in committee and writing a letter urging Hoeven to veto it. He said it's essential that his predecessors have a teaching certificate so they understand the educational system they're overseeing and have credibility among the teachers they're working with.

"I think that public action does need to occur on this," Sanstead said.

Supporters of the repeal say the teaching requirement is an outdated law that unfairly restricts the field of candidates for state superintendent. Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem issued an opinion saying the requirement is probably unconstitutional.

Rep. Duane DeKrey, R-Pettibone, a former teacher who sponsored the change, said running DPI is a job that requires managerial skills, not a teaching certificate. He said a constitutional amendment to undo his change would continue to disqualify many people with these skills.

"If you're going to take an elementary teacher from any elementary school and run them to be head of DPI, that makes no sense," DeKrey said. "But that's the system we'd be setting up with a constitutional amendment that requires them to be a teacher."

Critics of the change, including Sanstead and Democrats in the Legislature, said it's a cynical move by a Republican Party whose best candidates aren't certified.

"Partisan politics and children's education don't mix," Sanstead said.

Don Larson, a spokesman for Hoeven, said the governor signed the bill because he believes it gives voters more options in who they elect. However, he said the governor's office always supports submitting such questions to voters.

"If there's enough sentiment out there to make it a constitutional requirement, then it should be up for the people to decide," Larson said.

(Reach reporter Jonathan Rivoli at 223-8482 or jonathan.rivoli@;bismarcktribune.com.)

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Comments

Short Sighted or Blind? wrote on Apr 10, 2007 8:39 PM:

" There must be someone quite important who wants Wayne Sanstead's job. Obviously, this powerful person doesn't have a teaching license. Consitutional change or not, it will be difficult for a someone who isn't a licensed teacher to win this elected office. I'll be in favor of removing the teaching license requirement as soon as the attorney license requirement is removed for the state's Attorney General. That person doesn't need to be an attorney either. He/she only needs to be a "boss." Anyone who doesn't see the need for the State Superintendent not being a licensed teacher doesn't see very much. "

bigpoppakdog wrote on Apr 10, 2007 8:19 PM:

" Look at whats happened with Bush as president. NCLB will destroy schools in a few short years. All these decisions were made by non-educators..they were made by politicians who attached all their pork to every vote they make. I teach, therefore would be way more qualified for that position than lets say a banker...or farmer etc....I would find it foolish for me to run for a position that had nothing to do with my experience. I do not have alot of confidence in our political system making decisions on other issues...don't need them trying to make more decisions involving education. I would confidently say that over 90% of them had no clue on the No Child Left Behind Law they they supported 5 years ago....sure I could bring new ideas to the ag commiss. job, but you know what...they would be all wrong I can guarantee that...but I could make correct decisions concerning education issues as well as other educators. "

American wrote on Apr 10, 2007 4:41 PM:

" Last time I checked it was the responsiblity of the voters to choose the most qualified person. We do not require that the Insurance Comm. be an Insurance Agent or that the Tax Comm. be a CPA or that the Ag Comm. be a farmer/rancher. This is good policy, the people should decide. Some new thinking in that office would be helpful. "

No Brainer wrote on Apr 10, 2007 4:02 PM:

" It's not discrimination, it's a required skill/certification to do the job. How can one provide leadership to all teachers in the state if they haven't been a teacher in their previous employment at some point? It's kind of like saying you can be a brain surgeon without any practice. Who would like to step up and be the first patient for this doctor? If anyone has information on where to sign a petition, please post. "

DennisB wrote on Apr 10, 2007 11:45 AM:

" Does the new law say a person can't be a teacher? I don't think so. So if there is a qualified teacher interested in the position, that person could use the fact of being a teacher in their campaign. Conversely, the previous law only included teachers and was discriminatory, possibly excluding excellent candidates. To generalize and state only a teacher could understand the position is narrow-minded. "

Clarice Andrus wrote on Apr 10, 2007 10:41 AM:

" Every teacher in every classroom in the state and nation must be highly qualified according to strict guidelines set by No Child Left Behind, yet the only qualification a person has to have to run the state's school systems is that they are alive. This action of this legislature makes sense for a group of men who did not know Bono from Sonny Bono. What else needs to be said? Let me at that petition. "

Concerned wrote on Apr 10, 2007 10:15 AM:

" It makes sense for the head of DPI to know what happens in a class room. As the head of DPI, it would probably make more sense to require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to have credentials as a school administrator. "

old wrote on Apr 10, 2007 9:43 AM:

" Teaching experience is important to this position. While discussing this office, it's unfortunate that they didn't discuss a term limit. Dr. Sanstead should not be allowed to run again - he has been in office since 1983 and will be over 70 years old at the end of this term. Although he has done a good job during part of his tenure, it's time to get some young blood in the department. It's only a matter of time until we see a replay of the PSC's experience with Leo Reinbold. "

JULIE wrote on Apr 10, 2007 9:05 AM:

" It is important for the Supt of Public Instruction to know what it is like to be in the classroom. Obviously it is a political position is well. Most educators are very savy when it comes to both. I am disappointed in our legislative body in this regard. I have been a teacher and a school board member. Being a former teacher helped me understand the educational perspective. "

Brady wrote on Apr 10, 2007 8:36 AM:

" Let us all remember that Mr. DeKrey is the same clown that brought forth a bill that would outlaw leaving your hitch in the receiver of your car/truck, and also covering up game in the back of a truck. This was time well spent for all of our legislators. Now he is outspoken on this? Why do we elect this kind of person? I wonder if he and Mr. Wald room together while in town. Where do we sign this petition? This has a whole lot more to it than just "take an elementary teacher from any elementary school and run them to be head of DPI". Teachers know classrooms and much, much more. The head of all of them should know the same. "

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