Bill allows Utah school districts to hire non-educators as superintendents without state approval

SALT LAKE CITY — Non-educators applying to for a job as a school superintendent would not have to hold an administrative license issued by the State School Board according to a bill supported by the state Senate.

Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, said the local school districts, especially those facing fiscal problems, should be able to hire someone such as a business executive if they choose.

Under currently law, a district could hire a non-educator as superintendent with the permission of the State School Board. SB119 would eliminate the state board approval step, which Stephenson says has a "chilling effect" in the hiring process.

School districts are huge enterprises with budgets as high as $600 million and could benefit from the experience a company CEO could bring, said Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City.

— Dennis Romboy