Proposal to give state superintendent hire-fire power clears Hous

The new state school superintendent will have the power to hire and fire staff without going through the state Board of Education under a bill the Georgia House approved Tuesday.

Senate Bill 38, which passed 167-2, also would give Superintendent John Barge the authority to sign contracts up to $250,000, up from just $50,000 now.

The measure, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers, R-Woodstock, would allow the state school board to overrule a decision by a two-thirds vote. The state board could now grant the superintendent the hire-fire authority, though most positions are vetted by the board.

The measure drew scrutiny earlier this year after Barge recommended hiring the leader’s brother, Jon Rogers, for a job with the Race to the Top education improvement program. Jon Rogers was hired for the $75,000-a-year post.

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