Rise & Shine: New fronts open up in Pence vs. Ritz war

What was supposed to be a day of healing for the Indiana State Board of Education Wednesday instead saw a couple of new fronts open up in the war between state Superintendent Glenda Ritz and Gov. Mike Pence’s appointees:

  • Meeting designed to heal the state board instead leads to new Ritz vs. Pence turmoil. (Chalkbeat)
  • Ritz: CECI is coming for my job. (Journal Gazette)
  • Document: How to solve the “problem” of Ritz as chairwoman. (Indy Star)
  • Pence spokeswoman: proposal was immediately rejected (Courier Press)
  • Knives came out early in state board’s mediation session. (NWI)
  • Ritz says keeping her as chairwoman “protects voters.” (StateImpact)
  • Document says powers of the state board chair are not in statute so they could be easily changed. (AP)
  • Initial optimism from mediation session tempered as new tensions arise afterward. (WIBC)
  • New strategies by the state board had Ritz on the defensive during the meeting. (WTHR)

Glenda Ritz’s failed public access complaints against the state board will be heard again thanks to a new lawsuit:

  • Four citizens revive Ritz’s complaint against the board with public access lawsuit. (StateImpact)
  • Lawsuit: State board can’t be allowed to do business by email. (The Statehouse File)
  • A Democratic labor lawyer filed the suit against the state board. (AP)
  • Fort Wayne school board member among those who made the complaint. (Journal Gazette)

In other education news:

  • John Krull: GOP should get rid of education agency jumble. (The Statehouse File)
  • What will happen if Indiana exits Common Core standards? (StateImpact)
  • Pence will outline his 2014 legislative agenda in a speech today. (AP)
  • Here’s how Chalkbeat’s engagement director will serve Indiana. (Chalkbeat)
  • Center Grove board president defended a big raise for its superintendent. (Indy Star)
  • Portage schools may import new students from China through a partnership. (NWI)
  • Former South Bend area teacher and administrator dies. (SB Tribune)