Arizona group files to recall schools chief Diane Douglas
Sep 1, 2015, 1:01 PM | Updated: 1:02 pm
PHOENIX — A grassroots coalition determined to remove Arizona schools boss Diane Douglas from office filed a recall application Tuesday with the secretary of state.
In documents, the Coalition to Recall Diane Douglas said, “… Superintendent Douglas has consistently and recklessly jeopardized valuable and vital education funding due to her willingness to execute various federal and state education law and State Board of Education policies.”
The group has to collect 366,128 valid signatures over the next four months. If Douglas doesn’t step aside within a week, an election would be next.
The application went on to say that Douglas refused to “fulfill not only the basic duties under A.R.S. 15-251 but also to adhere to the checks and balances of the Arizona state government system.”
That section of the Arizona Revised Statute lays out the powers and duties of the superintendent.
Since taking office, Douglas has been locked in a battle for control of the state Board of Education. In February she fired two executives from the board only to have Gov. Doug Ducey rescind the action.
After that, Douglas filed a lawsuit against the board, which a judge dismissed in July.
The recall group registered with the secretary of state’s office last November, two weeks after Douglas won the election for superintendent of public instruction.
The statement closed with, “Education in Arizona needs a strong leader to leads its stakeholder and citizens during this time of crisis. Diane Douglas has proven she is not that leader.”