House Decides On Wyo. School Supt. Duties

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — It's decision time in the House of Representative on whether to make major changes in the duties of the Wyoming superintendent of public instruction.

The bill has been debated on the House floor for the past two days and faces one more vote Friday. The measure has already passed the state Senate.

The bill replaces the elected superintendent as head of the state Education Department with a director appointed by the governor. The superintendent will remain an elected state officer with some education duties.

The proposal has become one of the most contested issues in the session.

Proponents say the bill would improve delivery of K-12 education and save the state's school reform effort.

Opponents are concerned about increasing the governor's power and diminishing voter influence on education policy.