Consultant Recommends Appointed Schools Chief

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — A consultant says there is support in Wyoming for appointing a state superintendent of public instruction.

A Maryland-based consulting firm presented results of an online survey and separate interviews to members of the Joint Education Committee at a Wednesday meeting in Casper.

Currently, the state schools superintendent is one of five statewide elected officials. The superintendent oversees the state Education Department.

Some say the superintendent should be appointed because education governance has become more complicated over the years.

Consultant Nancy Doorey says interviews with representatives of educational groups found disagreement on whether the governor or the state Board of Education should appoint the superintendent.

Consultants will present a final report to the Legislature with recommendations by October.