Governor Hobbs Stumbles as Expired Education Board Members Remain in Power

By Staff Reporter |

A significant portion of the Arizona State Board of Education (ASBE) continues to operate on expired terms, a situation that raises concerns over governance. Governor Katie Hobbs has yet to appoint new members, with the exception of one known advocate for school choice.

Members are appointed by the governor for four-year terms, contingent on State Senate consent. Currently, six out of eleven board members are serving beyond their term limits. Additionally, there is one vacancy, meaning that effectively six of ten active members are in expired positions.

The terms of Jason Catanese and Vice President Dr. Scott Hagerman lapsed last January, while President Katherine Haley, Jenny Clark, Dr. Daniel Corr, and Julia Meyerson saw their terms expire last month.

Clark’s expired term recently caught attention following the signing of the Phoenix Declaration: An American Vision for Education by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. This declaration emphasizes school choice and aims for educational transparency, alongside a focus on merit-based academic standards.

This initiative received signatures from 10 educational and public interest groups, along with over 50 education policy experts. Notably, Clark is the founder of Love Your School, an organization that supports this vision.

In a controversial turn, Hobbs’ office requested Clark’s resignation last Wednesday. When she refused, officials allegedly warned her of an impending letter confirming the end of her term. As of Monday, Clark stated she had not received any formal notification.

“Honestly, I’m surprised @GovernorHobbs didn’t remove me when she took office. Clearly, the 9th floor has been struggling the last couple of years!” Clark remarked, adding that she remains committed to all students, especially those in Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account families. She noted the pressing challenges in math and reading reflected in recent NAEP scores.

In a tweet, Clark detailed her interaction with Hobbs’ office, emphasizing her stance against resignation despite other board members also serving expired terms.

Hobbs’ Campaign Commitments

Notably, one of Governor Hobbs’ primary campaign promises was to dismantle the universal expansion of the school choice program initiated by Republican Doug Ducey in 2022. Throughout her two-year negotiation with a Republican-led legislature, she has adjusted her goals regarding the state’s school choice policy.

This year, Hobbs has proposed a budget that would cut funding to the Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) Program, suggesting income limitations for families. Under her proposal, only households earning below $200,000 would qualify.

House Speaker Steve Montenegro has publicly criticized this budget proposal, describing it as unacceptable from a Republican standpoint. He voiced concerns that it undermines parental choice and imposes undue financial burdens on taxpayers.

As of this week, nearly 86,500 students have enrolled in the ESA Program, demonstrating continued interest in school choice options within Arizona.