INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma is supporting Gov. Mike Pence's call to have the governor's appointees on the State Board of Education select their own chairman.
Under law, Democratic Schools Superintendent Glenda Ritz serves as the board's chair. But Pence and former Gov. Mitch Daniels have appointed the other 10 members of the board, leading to colossal public fights at state board meetings for almost two years.
Pence announced Thursday he would seek legislation to have the governor's appointees on the board elect a chair, effectively placing Ritz's chairmanship in danger. Pence also said he was dissolving the second education agency he created, which sparked many of the fights.
Bosma and Senate President Pro Tem David Long have worked extensively behind the scenes to mediate fights between Ritz and Pence.
