Statement on the resignation of Commissioner Pruitt

As a member of the Kentucky Board of Education I went to Frankfort today to support Dr. Stephen Pruitt. I earnestly hoped that he could continue in his role as Commissioner of Education. Sadly, the meeting concluded with an agreement between Dr. Pruitt and the Board for his resignation. I voted no, casting the lone dissenting vote against the agreement. Vice Chairman Rich Gimmel abstained from the vote.

I'm deeply disappointed by this outcome. I have enormous respect and admiration for Dr. Pruitt and I am grateful for the work he has done on behalf of the students of Kentucky. I wish Dr. Pruitt and his family many blessings as they enter this new time of transition.

While I disagreed with the Board majority on this issue, I believe that all Board members acted today out of a sincere desire to greatly accelerate student learning outcomes. I share this sense of urgency, and welcome the chance to continue working with the Board to build a unified vision for statewide educational improvement.

Usual disclaimer: All views expressed on this website are mine alone and do not reflect the opinions of Western Kentucky University (where I am associate professor in the Department of Educational Administration, Leadership, and Research) or the Kentucky Board of Education (where I have served as a member since 2016). 

Comments

[Georgi]

How is the obvious push to privatize education going to accelerate student learning in this state? The number of students whose learning will be accelerated will eventually be out numbered by the ones left behind in a for profit education system. The damage being done here, and to the country on a national level, by the cuts to public education will last for many year...

[Lynn Greene]

It was my understanding that there were three board members that said this very thing. Not understanding how that could be. Could you please outline the problematic issues the Board had with Dr Pruitt?

[Gary Houchens]

Lynn, I cannot speak for other Board members. Whatever they might have said elsewhere or on other occasions, I was the only vote against this agreement.

[Gary Houchens]

Georgi, Dr. Pruitt supported charter schools for Kentucky. For me, school choice is not about privatization. It's about giving low-income families additional options, which is something affluent families already enjoy. I believe we can do that and still have great public schools. See my other posts on this blog for more information as to why I am a school choice supporter and public school advocate.

[Beverly Moore]

All students in Jefferson County Schools already have choices. A choice system is not a panacea. There are many problems creating a choice system that gives equitable choices to all students. Primarily, it is because not everyone can go to the most popular school, as with higher education where everyone cannot go to Harvard.

With private schools vying for the best students in a charter system, there will probably be even more economic segregation in that system than exist in JCPS. The disadvantaged will be discriminated against just as much. The disadvantaged children will still be disadvantaged at home. They will still change schools often. They will still have parents in jail, unemployed, on drugs, or working three jobs to feed the family, etc. Making those children compete for places in desired charter schools is just cruel.

[Gary Houchens]

Beverly, I'm not sure how your comment relates to the post above, but I'm always eager to engage in discussion on charter schools. First, I would agree with you that choice is not a panacea. We should have more choices because it works, it is fair, and it's more consistent with how we deliver other highly personal public services. Please see more about how charter schools work, and the argument for school choice, here: http://schoolleader.typepad.com/school-leader/2018/04/kentucky-charter-school-basics.html