Davis Names Four to School Board
Gov. Gray Davis made a further move last week to put his stamp on education in California by announcing four appointments to the 11-member state board of education.
Mr. Davis, a Democrat who took office last month after 16 years of Republican control of the governorship, promised during his campaign to make education his top priority. Already, he has convened a special legislative session on education. Now, with the four new appointments, he has signed off on a total of five members of the state panel, which had been run by appointees of former Gov. Pete Wilson.
Last month, Mr. Davis cancelled two appointments that had been made by Mr. Wilson, but had not been confirmed by the Senate. He did, however, let stand Mr. Wilson’s addition to the board of Marian Bergeson, the Republican former state secretary of education. Governors put members on the board, and the Senate follows up with confirmation later.
Mr. Davis’ new picks are: Susan Hammer, a former mayor of San Jose; Monica Lozano, the associate publisher of the nation’s leading Spanish-language newspaper, La Opinion; Carlton J. Jenkins, a former chairman and chief executive officer of Founders National Bank of Los Angeles; and Vicki Reynolds, a former mayor of Beverly Hills.
--Robert C. Johnston
Ky. Seeks New Testing Chief--Again
For the fourth time in little more than a year, Kentucky is looking for someone to take charge of its K-12 assessment system.
Cheryl D. King, the state’s assistant commissioner for assessment and accountability, will leave the state education department this month to become the deputy secretary of the Kentucky Workforce Development Cabinet.
Ms. King has held the job since last summer and oversaw design of the state’s new testing system, which will be used for the first time this spring. She succeeded Brian Gong, who left in July to form a test-development company. Before that, Edward F. Reidy managed the system for six years. Mr. Reidy is now the director of education grants for the Pew Charitable Trusts in Philadelphia.
The state is looking for someone with technical expertise in assessments, said Jim Parks, the press secretary for the education department. Ms. King, a former school administrator in Owensboro, Ky., was especially good at writing policies for the new testing program, he said.
--David J. Hoff
