OMAHA — Former State Sen. Theresa Thibodeau of Omaha, a Republican running for governor, said last week that she wants Nebraska to keep its elected state Board of Education.

A recent proposal to amend the state's constitution in order to eliminate the state Board of Education and transfer the state Department of Education under the governor's jurisdiction drew criticism from the gubernatorial candidate. Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha, the introducer of Legislative Resolution 278CA, said she introduced the resolution to benefit conservative parents who are frustrated by the education board's proposal to change health education standards.

Thibodeau, however, said Linehan's resolution would actually make it more difficult to hold state board members accountable. She said Nebraskans can currently campaign and vote against those education board members that they disagree with. Under LR278CA, Nebraskans would have to pressure governors to create any change in this regard.

LR278CA would put the authority to hire and fire the state's education commissioner in the governor's hands instead of the eight-member Board of Education.

“I’m angry about the heavy-handed way the State Board of Education tried to force inappropriate sex education standards on our children,” Thibodeau said in a press release. “The solution, however, is at the ballot box.”

Another proposal that Thibodeau does not agree with is the motion by voter initiative to eliminate the state Department of Education and education commissioner's post. An "Office of Education" would instead be created under the governor. Thibodeau said this proposal would still strengthen the educational bureaucracy. She wants an elected board that is accountable to the people.

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