State Sen. Rodney Tom (D-Medina) proposed today that the state legislature should work toward a bill this session that would amend the state constitution to make the superintendent of public instruction an appointed position.

It is currently a non-partisan statewide elected job with a four year term. Current Superintendent Terry Bergeson has held the post for twelve years and is seeking re-election against Eatonville’s Randy Dorn.

Tom, who briefly sought the Democratic nomination for congress in the 8th District last year, thinks it would help to define the governor’s role in implementing education policy.

“The governor doesn’t have control over how education policy is implemented and it’s 41 percent of our state’s budget,” Tom said. “Education is our paramount duty, yet our governor doesn’t have oversight authority over the agency.

“Agency implementation is totally out of their hands. It’s crazy. The public holds the governor responsible for education policy. It’s time we give the Governor’s Office the authority to implement the needed changes.”