When Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott's last official day of work ended Monday, speculation on his replacement began swirling across the state.
North Texans from state Sen. Florence Shapiro of Plano to former Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams of Arlington have been mentioned in the mix, along with former state Rep. Kent Grusendorf, a former Arlington resident, and other education insiders around the state.Gov. Rick Perry's office said this week that the matter is "still in the appointments process" and that the name of the eventual appointee will be announced in a new release once a decision is final. Scott will serve until Perry appoints his replacement.Whoever is picked will wield tremendous power and responsibility.The education commissioner oversees the adoption of the Foundation School Program budget, which pays for public education, distributes funds to open-enrollment charter schools and oversees the regional education service centers.He or she also adopts procedures for appraising teachers, administrators and counselors; oversees adoption and purchase of textbooks and technology; buys school buses; and administers the Chapter 41 equalized-wealth funding system.Scott's tenure had more turmoil than most. Starting in 2003 when he was deputy commissioner and continuing through his tenure as commissioner, which started in 2007, the Texas Education Agency has coped with massive reorganizations and downsizing because of state budget reductions. Districts statewide suffered layoffs and deep budget cuts.He also oversaw the enrollment of tens of thousands of new students who flowed into Texas after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.Perry could remain consistent and appoint Todd Webster, who has served as chief of staff, to succeed Scott.Most-mentionedThe leading candidate mentioned by most insiders is state Rep. Rob Eissler, R-The Woodlands. He is chairman of the House Public Education Committee, but he lost his re-election bid in the May primary and will leave office.His educational overhauls include allowing cash-strapped districts to use furlough days and pay cuts to keep teachers employed and changing the public school accountability system. Eissler has worked with the Southern Regional Education Board on regional education issues and has been supported by teachers groups, PTAs and other education organizations."I've already talked to Perry's office, to put in my two cents for Rob Eissler," said Pat Hardy, State Board of Education member for Tarrant County.Shapiro and Grusendorf have too many conflicts of interest, Hardy said.Other namesGrusendorf, who represented Arlington for 20 years in the House before losing his seat in 2007 to state Rep. Diane Patrick, R-Arlington, has moved to Austin to promote his education agenda.He was once the powerful chairman of the House Public Education Committee and a key architect of the state's highly controversial school finance plan.While in office, he repeatedly criticized school districts for bloated bureaucracies. He has also advocated easing or eliminating the cap on the number of charter schools as well as allowing public vouchers for private school tuition.Although Perry was a Grusendorf backer in the House, some observers say Grusendorf's lawsuit against the agency he wants to head could be a problem.Shapiro is retiring from the Senate this year after serving as a senator since 1993 and as chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee since 2003. She has tackled several overhauls of the school finance system, a task that pits poor districts against wealthy ones like those in her north Dallas district.She has also championed education reforms such as digital learning.But Shapiro, a former teacher, has also been criticized for sitting on the boards of education advocacy organizations while writing legislation favorable to their causes.Williams, the son of two public school teachers, had his name mentioned in the Austin-based Quorum Report, an online political newsletter, as a possible appointee as commissioner. Williams moved to Arlington in 1993.Gov. George W. Bush appointed him to the Railroad Commission in 1998, and he was re-elected in 2000, 2002 and 2008. Williams gave up that post to first run for the U.S. Senate but eventually lost a congressional bid in May.Austin-based political consultant Bill Miller said the mention of Williams' name isn't surprising, given his popularity in Republican circles."Michael's a capable, smart guy, and a guy whose name doesn't surprise me in this context," Miller said. "It could very well be relevant."Staff writer Anna M. Tinsley contributed to this reportShirley Jinkins, 817-390-7657Twitter: @startelegramHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
