Bill relaxing requirements for Ind. superitendents passes Senate

Indiana House Bill 1357, which would relax requirements for school superintendents, passed through the senate and now returns to its author Rep. Todd Huston, R-Fishers, to either accept or reject the newly amended version.

The superintendent of the Monroe County Community School Corporation, Judy DeMuth, had a line of former titles and positions prior to assuming the superintendency, including a teacher, coach and principal at various Indiana schools.

Sen. Dennis Kruse, R-Auburn, chair of the Senate Education Committee, said the bill was originally created so school boards would be able to hire whoever they felt was most qualified for the position, regardless of their experience in education.

The original version of the bill passed out of the House of Representatives and then the Senate Education Committee with a 6-5 vote. When the bill was being considered at the Senate, an amendment was proposed to require superintendents to have a master’s degree. The amended bill passed out of the Senate 26-25, with Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann breaking the tie.

According to the bill, the proposed legislation “provides that a superintendent of schools is not required to hold a teacher’s or superintendent’s license, but is required to have obtained at least a master’s degree from an accredited postsecondary educational institution.” It also “repeals a requirement that a county superintendent of schools must have five years of successful teaching experience and hold a superintendent’s license.”

Kruse voted to move the bill forward because he said school boards are capable of hiring the best people for the job. School superintendents are mainly administrators and financial overseers and don’t deal directly with educating students.

Kruse said he believes Rep. Huston will agree with the newly amended bill.

Sen. Jim Banks, R-Columbia City, also agrees Huston will accept the new bill because of the close vote that occurred in the Senate.

If Huston rejects the amended bill, a conference committee with representatives from both sides of congress will hash out the differences between the two versions and it will then be voted on in both the Senate and House again.

If Huston and the House do accept the new version, it will go to Gov. Mike Pence.
Banks also supported HB 1357, but did not agree with the new amendment requiring superintendents to have a master’s degree. Despite his opposition, his also supported the bill on the Senate floor.

He said this bill deals with local control and helps school boards make the best decision to elect someone who has the best skills for their needs at that time.