Ritz supporters rally against bills costing her authority

Teachers, parents and students gathered at the Indiana Statehouse on Monday in support of Democratic Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz, who could lose control of the State Board of Education under bills advancing through the Republican-dominated Legislature.

Hundreds of people held signs reading "Stop the power grab" and "Stop the assault on public education #Stand4PublicEd" at the event organized by the Indiana Coalition for Public Education. As the crowd began chanting, "We stand with Ritz," the superintendent took the podium in a surprise appearance to say, "And I stand with you."

The rally comes amid efforts to remove Ritz as chairman of the State Board of Education. Proposals in both the state House and Senate would allow Republican Gov. Mike Pence's appointed board members to elect their own chairman, most likely ousting Ritz from the job. Until now, Indiana law automatically gave responsibility to the superintendent of public instruction.

"Keep it up. They need to hear from you," Ritz said, encouraging the crowd to voice its opposition over the recent proposals, prompted by the ongoing friction between Ritz and Republican board members.

House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, said in a House session last week that the change would help fix a dysfunctional board.

Lauren Bishop-Weidner, a retired school teacher, said the legislation abuses the democratic process and undermines the 1.3 million people who voted Ritz into office in 2012.

"We elected Ritz to represent the people of Indiana," Bishop-Weidner said. "She is working for the change that was entrusted with her by the people of Indiana, and the supermajority cannot bully that voice away."

Ritz supporters assert that the disputes among board members have been spawned by Pence's appointees who want control over programs on teacher evaluation, private school vouchers and the state takeover of poorly performing schools.

Many of the programs were championed by former Superintendent Tony Bennett, whom Ritz unseated after receiving more supporting votes than Pence.

"We chose her because we didn't like the direction that Tony Bennett was taking," said Julie Rhodes, an Indianapolis mother. "I'm really frustrated that our legislators and our governor are not respecting the voters."

The Senate could have acted on the legislation Monday, but the bill's author opted not to call it down for a vote. Similar legislation was approved last week by the House.