2 school board bills get unanimous OKs

Two bills revamping the election process of the State Board of Education received a unanimous vote of support by the state board on Friday.

Rep. Ronda Menlove, R-Garland; and Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, D-Salt Lake, are each pitching similar bills on the state board election process: HB293 and HB150.

The bills would eliminate the governor's nominating selection committee. Instead, state board elections would follow the pattern of local school board elections, with a primary election that allows the voters — not a committee — to weed out the candidates.

Menlove and Moss said they were pleasantly surprised with the board's action, especially considering six of the board members are newly elected and went through the governor's nominating selection committee process.

"It's very encouraging," Menlove said.

— Amy K. Stewart