April 18, 2014
Yesterday Superintendent Hill held a press conference and made the following statement:
“Today we close a most interesting chapter in Wyoming history. As you know, 15 months ago the governor signed into law a bill that removed the superintendent as the head of the department of education and stripped away most of the duties of the office.
On January 28 of this year, the Wyoming Supreme Court found that law to be unconstitutional. Today the district court entered its final judgment ordering that I be allowed to return as the head of the Wyoming Department of Education.
The district court agreed that SF104 was unconstitutional with a few exceptions. For example, Judge Campbell granted the governor’s request that I not be allowed to have counsel, it also granted the governor’s request that he be allowed to appoint half the members of the professional teaching standards board. While I can’t say I agree with the wisdom of these findings, the Powers and I will not appeal this judgment, as it would only cause further delays.
We have been anticipating this order and my staff has been preparing and working with the WDE and the governor’s office to ensure a smooth and timely transition. We plan to meet Monday morning and get back to work.
As we turn to the next chapter, I recognize there is much work to be done and I am confident that the staff at the Wyoming Department of Education is up to the task.”
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For additional questions or information, please contact:
Travis Hoff
Public Information Officer
Office of the Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction
2301 Capitol Avenue, Barrett Building, Second Floor
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002
307-777-2053 |ospi.wyoming.gov