Based on a fast-moving series of events, Wayne Lewis’s time as Kentucky commissioner of education may be coming to an end.
On Tuesday, Governor Beshear fulfilled a campaign promise by using his first executive order to “reorganize” the state Board of Education, getting rid of the current board and appointing a new one with David Karem as temporary chair. He announced that reorganization during his inaugural address, where it was greeted with cheers by the crowd in attendance.
Ten members of the former board said they would sue to keep their positions, and later on Tuesday they filed suit in Franklin Circuit Court, asking for an injunction to block the executive order.
On Wednesday, Judge Thomas Wingate denied the request for an injunction, stating that the governor has the right to re-organize boards while the legislature is not in session. This was the same legal ruling that former governor Bevin used to appoint the former board, and which was challenged by Beshear when he was attorney general.
The board appointments will have to be approved by the legislature during its next session, however.
The lawyer representing the former board has indicated he will appeal Judge Wingate’s ruling.
With the go-ahead to meet, the new board posted the agenda for their Thursday meeting, and included on the agenda is a closed-door session that could lead to a negotiated exit for Lewis.
Also on the agenda is the selection of a new permanent chair of the board.
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