Another Republican power grab underway in NCGA as they try to make the NC Board of Education an elected body

Republicans are attempting yet another power grab in the North Carolina legislature. Earlier this month, a bill seeking to make the N.C. Board of Education an elected body, instead of an appointed one, passed an important House committee, WRAL reported.

If it passes and gets adopted into law, House Bill 17 would give North Carolinians the opportunity to amend the state’s Constitution to make the board elected and to make the state superintendent the voting chairperson of it.

The North Carolina governor has the power to appoint 11 of the 14 board members, with legislative approval. Appointees serve eight-year terms. The state superintendent, lieutenant governor and state treasurer also serve on the board.

At least 60% of the House and 60% of the Senate would need to approve HB 17 in order for the constitutional amendment to be put to the voters.

Rep. Marcia Morey, D-Durham, voted against the bill and told WRAL, “I’m very worried about taking away that responsibility of the governor, putting it into another partisan political race.”

Thankfully, the bill still has a long way to go before it could even theoretically be adopted into law – the House Education Committee approved the bill on a 16-9 vote. It will need to pass through the House Rules Committee, then pass the full House, and then go through the same steps in the Senate.