After a flipflop by means of Gov. Ned Lamont, the nation Board of Education is predicted Thursday to suggest Miguel Cardona, Wallingford’s assistant superintendent of faculties, as the next education commissioner.
Lamont switched his choice — which need to be recommended via the nation board and the legislature — this week, just days after telling Bloomfield Superintendent of Schools James Thompson he had the activity. Lamont’s office said it couldn’t come to a very last agreement with Thompson, regardless of a July 8 letter to him.
“On behalf of Governor Ned Lamont and the State Of Connecticut, I am thrilled to provide you employment with the Connecticut Department of Education in the position of Commissioner,” wrote Paul Mounds, Lamont’s chief running officer, in a letter dated July eight.
“This settlement is valid upon your recommendation for Commissioner by Connecticut State Board of Education. Governor Lamont values your leadership and appears ahead to operating with you,” Mounds said within the letter.
Allan B. Taylor, chairman of the kingdom Board of Education, did now not respond to calls requesting remark Wednesday. The board is scheduled to take up the endorsement vote in the course of a conference call Thursday morning. The 10-member board presently has 3 vacancies, and 7 individuals are eligible to vote on a convention name.
Under state regulation, the legislature nonetheless desires to verify the nomination, stated Peter Yazbak, a spokesman for the schooling branch.
The commissioner of education task is the final unfilled function in Gov. Lamont’s management, which has faced grievance for a disorganized method.
Struggling to build support for his signature idea — a plan to add tolls to some highways — Lamont said he could update top team of workers participants ultimate week. Legislators have complained the governor’s message on tolls has been muddled on account that he switched from a campaign pledge not to recommend tolls on automobiles. They have additionally stated the administration’s progress become slowed because Lamont has surrounded himself with colleagues who lack long-time period government revel in.
Thompson first talked with Lamont in January approximately the commissioner’s process. Lamont decided on Thompson after interviewing the pinnacle applicants for the job in June, resources near the manner said. Between the July 8 letter and July sixteen, Lamont modified his preference to Cardona.
Lamont’s workplace told Thompson on Tuesday that he might no longer get the activity. A spokesperson for Lamont, while asked why the governor modified his mind, stated the 2 facets have been not able to come to an settlement.
“Dr. Thompson become provided a suggestion letter contingent upon board action and agreed-upon phrases,’’ stated Paul Mounds, the chief operating officer inside the Lamont administration in a declaration furnished with the aid of Lamont’s press workplace. “In this example, but, things did now not work out.”
Last week, Lamont offered Thompson a revenue of $192,500 and become asked to determine whether he wanted the task with the aid of July eleven.
On Tuesday, sources said Lamont might alternatively offer the process to Miguel Cardona, assistant superintendent of faculties in Meriden.
Stan Simpson, a spokesman for Thompson, said the Bloomfield superintendent became supplied the top training process on special events by way of Gov. Lamont.
“The first time became in January. The 2d time, after a lengthy and competitive selection technique, the provide became installed writing remaining week, Dr.Thompson everyday. The Governor eventually reneged. In doing so, the Governor publicly and needlessly humiliated considered one of Connecticut’s maximum reputable training leaders,” Simpson stated on Wednesday.
“This procedure lacked integrity — and now it lacks candor. The Governor and his advisers caved in to outside stress. It’s as easy as that.”
One supply stated Tuesday that as conversations with Thompson continued, “it became clean that the administration and the State Board of Education and Dr. Thompson have been not on the same web page with appreciate to roles and responsibilities.”
Cardona, another supply stated, “got here prepared, he came with a vision. He got here with the feel that he desired the position for the proper reasons.”