LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- The shakeup with the Kentucky Education Board has many wondering what impact, if any, the changes will have on local school districts. Concerns are swirling in Jefferson County where some fear the resignation of Dr. Stephen Pruitt immediately following Governor Matt Bevin’s appointment of seven new board members will lead to the accelerated development of charter schools or a state takeover.
You may not know it, but the Kentucky Board of Education has not always existed and its commissioner has not always the top education official in the state.
Today we spoke with a former Louisville lawmaker instrumental in the 1990's reforms known as Kentucky Education Reform Act or KERA for his take on the structure, whether it's holding up and that shakeup that has many wondering what's next.
“I'm an idealist, I want to believe everybody wants to do what's right for the kids. Stay tuned," said David Karem.
Karem spent 33 years in the Kentucky legislature including time as an architect of KERA. He also served for seven years on the Kentucky Board of Education which was created by those reforms.
Before KERA, the chief state school official was an elected position and there was no education background required.
"We fashioned a situation to try to remove, as much as possible, the Department of Education from political influence, if you will,” explained Karem.
The governor appointed board hires a commissioner who directs the Department of Education, formulating regulations for the Board of Education to okay and the legislature to approve.
"They are, in essence, operating the state school system,” said Karem. “It's a unified system, you have local school boards and you have local districts but those are all under the umbrella of the State Department of Education who, in essence, formulate and run Kentucky education.”
Many have called Commissioner Stephen Pruitt's resignation, a power play by Governor Bevin looking to speed up formation of charter schools and a potential JCPS takeover.
The new Board Chairman and Interim Commissioner are outspoken supporters of Charter Schools and Governor Bevin's education policies.
Mr. Karem has long supported Stephen Pruitt.
WHAS asked whether he thought this week's move reintroduced politics into the process. He answered, “I think that an overview of what's gone on suggests that politics has reentered. How strongly it's reentered, I'm not ready to say because I haven't studied it that carefully. But I think a cursory review of what's gone on suggests that some politics has reentered it, understanding that there's always going to be some politics in it. But there's also the desire that the Department of Education is headed by professional educators to supervise education in the Commonwealth."
Late today Former Commissioner Pruitt tweeted to explain that he resigned as to not prolong the process and he encourages everyone to now focus on children and moving the state forward. He added his thanks to the outpouring of love calling yesterday "tough" and describing the support as inspiring him.
It's unclear when a study of JCPS may be complete or if it will lead to any type of takeover. A Kentucky Department of Education spokesperson said they currently manage Breathitt and Menifee County Schools following audits of those systems.
►Contact reporter Chris Williams at cwilliams@whas11.com. Follow him on Twitter (@chriswnews) and Facebook.