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The Senate has confirmed Lawrence County Schools Superintendent Robbie Fletcher as Kentucky's next education commissioner, current .
The resolution, SR 285 passed by a vote 36-1, with Sen. Donald Douglas, R-Nicholasville, as the only dissenting vote.
Several Senators said they were glad KBE chose a Kentuckian to lead the department of education.
“I’m very excited, once again that we’re bringing a Kentuckian into this position that has been here within Kentucky, has not traveled outside of Kentucky for education, that knows our Commonwealth well,” said Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville.
Sen. Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, who sponsored the 2022 bill to make commissioners subject to Senate approval, said the process worked as he envisioned.
“I’m very pleased that the board members came over and met with us and talked to us and got our thoughts and ideas and continually reached out to us to work with us. I see a new day in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”
Days before the final vote, in a special called Senate Education Committee where Fletcher introduced himself, he was asked about his priorities, leadership style, working with the General Assembly, teacher retention and other education issues. He was also pressed by Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris, on HB2, the constitutional amendment ballot measure on public funding for private education, and his department’s role should it pass.
“Well, first and foremost, I’m in favor of school choice,” Fletcher said. “Now, there are some operational definitions that we’re going to have that’s going to be different. For example, the biggest question I have would be funding.”
Fletcher clarified to reporters after the meeting that he opposes public money funding private schools, but that it was not his role to campaign against the amendment.
Fletcher will begin as commissioner on July 1.
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