Stock Says Quality of Schools Real Issue

Laramie County School District 1 Superintendent Mark Stock is not taking any position on  Senate File 104, which would take the leadership of the state Department of Education away from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Cindy Hill and reassign it to a person that would be appointed by the governor.

Stock says these kinds of debates are taking place across the country, but says the real issue often boils down to whether people are happy with their schools or not. He says if the schools are performing well  most people don't care whether the person leading the school system is elected or appointed. He says conversely if the schools are not performing people tend to want a change in the top leadership.

Stock also says that as the issues concerning education become more technical the challenges faced by the top  officials leading the schools become more of a challenge, adding that elected officials may or may not be qualified to meet those challenges.