Perdue's first law revamps state education system

RALEIGH, N.C. — Gov. Beverly Perdue signed her first bill into law Wednesday morning, restructuring the leadership of the state's public schools.

Perdue signed Senate Bill 198 in a ceremony in the Old House Chamber of the State Capitol.

The new law allows Cumberland County Schools Superintendent Bill Harrison to serve both as chairman of the State Board of Education and as chief executive of the Department of Public Instruction.

State lawmakers gave final approval to the bill Thursday. Previously, only one public school employee could serve on the board, but the change in the law will allow a second schools employee on the board.

"This new leadership structure will bring a clear line of accountability and efficiency for moving North Carolina’s public schools forward,” Perdue said in a statement. “Our schools can be the best in the nation, and I believe these changes will lead to students who become an innovative, well-educated, well-trained work force of tomorrow.”

An outside consultant criticized North Carolina's school system in a January report, saying the lack of clear-cut leadership thwarted efforts to improve education.

Harrison is expected to be sworn in as a board member and elected chairman Thursday.

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“Our schools can be the best in the nation, and I believe these changes will lead to students who become an innovative, well-educated, well-trained work force of tomorrow.”

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. You can legislate the requirement for a "child" to go to school, but you cannot make him learn, or care to learn, or not disrupt the class and keep others from learning.

I declare it looks like we are trying to end up as a dictatorship at both the federal and state level. jeez

Hurry up 2010 and 2012 and pray that the voting public will think before they vote.

beachboater
March 5, 2009 5:44 p.m.

"Well it seems she was elected in!! That is why straight ticket voting is a bad choice!!! You guys voted her in, deal with it. McCrory had a much better plan if people just would have listened instead of checking straight ticket."

Fairplay - you and I can preach this till our throats become hoarse! Idiots will always be idiots. I don't mind the idiots getting what they deserve but you and I also have to suffer collateral damage!

Conservative
March 5, 2009 8:40 a.m.

Sigh.... it's hard to post on this without beating the proverbial dead horse. Everybody please don't choose to check one box in the next election, use the gray matter you have and vote for SOMEBODY in every category.

showed up late
March 5, 2009 8:23 a.m.

First action. Take care of the fat cats in the 'education' system.

Sidekick
March 5, 2009 8:20 a.m.

Way too many chiefs and not enough indians in state govt.

demo7691
March 5, 2009 8:14 a.m.