Fox Writes Her Own Agenda Superintendent Tours Schools With Conservative Message
Anne Fox, Idaho’s superintendent of schools, is on the move.
“We’ve got 112 school districts, and my goal is to hit every one before December,” she said Friday, dropping her head in feigned exhaustion.
“That’s my goal.”
At the same time, Fox is trying to rewrite Idaho’s curriculum standards, prepare a budget proposal before September, and make much-needed friends as she promotes her conservative schools agenda.
When she raised her head, a feathery black earring fluttered from one ear. She had lost the other as she talked on her cellular phone.
By the time she arrived at a Rotary Club luncheon, Fox had recovered the earring. Barbecued ribs, corn on the cob and many handshakes later, she continued a tour of Coeur d’Alene schools.
Fox has gained a reputation for hanging tough with her ideas, as unpopular as some may be.
She supports the Idaho Citizens Alliance initiative calling for school vouchers. Under the system, parents would get state money and could use it to teach their children at home or send them to private school.
She opposed the Goals 2000 federal money for school reform, but was overruled by the state Board of Education.
A statewide poll of school administrators found little support for the former Post Falls superintendent.
Fox won’t apologize for opposing the status quo.
“If I’m not in the paper taking flak, maybe people don’t think I’m doing anything,” she said.
A spate of bad press following her election led one group of back-to-the-basics parents to distribute bumper stickers that read, “Support Dr. Anne Fox.”
At a recent Republican meeting in Boise, Fox and U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth got a warm welcome, said Kathy Sims of Kootenai County’s GOP.
“They’re gutsy. They don’t back down, and they don’t soft-pedal,” Sims said.
Fox’s criticism comes from the left and the right. Recently, a staff member quit because Fox was becoming too mainstream.
“I haven’t changed one ounce,” Fox said. “I’m doing all the things the public asked me to do.”
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo