Senate OKs bill to give state schools chief power to hire, fire employees

The state Senate approved Monday a bill that would take power away from the state school board and gives it to the state superintendent by making him the sole authority to hire and fire Education Department employees.

Senate Bill 38 had been approved last year by the state House but never made it to a final vote in the Senate before the chamber adjourned in April. The bill would give the state board the ability to overrule the superintendent in any employment decision by a two-thirds vote.

Senate members approved the bill unanimously and sent it to Gov. Nathan Deal for his signature.