SPRINGFIELD (AP) — A key member of the Illinois State Board of Education has formally resigned over concerns about the way new Superintendent Tony Smith was hired.
The Chicago Tribune reported resigning board member James Baumann said there was no national search and only one candidate for the state’s top schools position.
Smith was appointed by the board of education last week and takes over May 1. He is the former head of Oakland, California, schools and has ties to Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner.
He also was Rauner’s recommendation to the board. The Republican governor recently appointed five new board members to the nine-person board.
At least two previous state superintendents were hired after a national search, including current state Superintendent Christopher Koch.