Batt Chastises Board Over Treatment Of Fox Superintendent Deserves More Respect, Governor Says

Idaho public schools Superintendent Anne Fox deserves more respect from the state Board of Education, Gov. Phil Batt says.

“It should be noted that Ms. Fox was given a solid vote of confidence at the ballot box,” Batt wrote in a letter dated last Thursday to board President Roy Mosman of Moscow and distributed to other board members.

“Therefore, while you do not have to agree with her, you should afford some deference to her publicly endorsed positions,” Batt wrote.

The Board of Education handed Fox a major setback three weeks ago by voting to accept more than $400,000 in federal grant money through the Goals 2000 program, which Fox opposes.

Mosman and board member Curtis Eaton of Twin Falls also chastised Fox for adding an ombudsman post in the Department of Education.

Batt said he hoped future board meetings would be less personally acrimonious and aimed more at improving Idaho education.

In his carefully worded letter, Batt emphasized he does not disagree with the board about who should control the money. Members of a decision-making body such as the board should feel free to ask questions, express differing opinions and disagree with each other, the governor said.

But in the process, “it is not acceptable to denigrate and embarrass any member of the board,” Batt wrote. “Board members should not be subject to harassment by other board members, or by anyone testifying before the board.”

While Fox has been under almost constant fire during her first three months in office, Batt has remained silent for the most part and declined to second-guess the decisions of another elected official. Both are Republicans.

Batt spokesman Amy Kleiner said Monday that the governor’s office has been inundated with calls and letters about the Board of Education’s treatment of Fox.

“I think the governor is trying to take some leadership in smoothing things out,” Kleiner said. “Most people are calling in and asking, ‘Can you fire the board?’ People underestimate the base she has.”

Although Batt opposed the Goals 2000 program as a candidate, Kleiner said he was deferring to the Board of Education on the issue, as he has on whether Boise State University or the University of Idaho should run the Boise engineering program.

Mosman, a Republican appointed to the board by former Democratic Gov. Cecil Andrus, said he had not seen Batt’s letter Monday and declined comment.

Eaton, who is the only board member who contributed money to Fox’s campaign, said he agreed with almost all of Batt’s letter.

But Eaton said he did not believe board members should have to show deference to the opinions of others if they have legitimate reasons for disagreement.