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Arizona Gov. Ducey Signs Bill Ending Dispute Between Board, State Chief

By Daarel Burnette II — May 12, 2016 1 min read
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Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill Wednesday that resolves a dispute between the state’s Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas, according to the Associated Press.

Douglas, an anti-common-core activist who was elected in 2014, started her relationship with the board on the wrong foot when she fired two staff members who worked for the board. After board members complained, Ducey reversed the firings, and Douglas, also a Republican, sued the board, arguing that the superintendent manages employees, not the board. A judge later ruled against her. Douglas had appealed that ruling.

Soon, the board moved its staff a few blocks away, setting off a fight over who had access to the department’s teacher files, which sat at the department’s headquarters. The board sued Douglas to get access to the files.

Since then, Douglas says the board has rejected her offer of mediation, an accusation the board denies.

The new law, SB 1416, allows the board to retain its employees and Douglas to assume oversight of the department’s teacher files. Both the board and Douglas have agreed to drop their lawsuits.

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A version of this news article first appeared in the State EdWatch blog.