Senior Lawmakers Concerned About Wyoming State Education Department Turnovers

Some senior Wyoming lawmakers say they're concerned that high turnover at the state Education Department could derail its ability to track information about student and teacher performance. Education consultant Richard Seder recently warned members of the Joint Appropriations Committee that the loss of key personnel had brought the Education Department to the verge of not being able to track data. Cody Republican Sen. Hank Coe, chairman of the Senate Education Committee, and Laramie Republican Sen. Phil Nicholas, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, both say they're concerned about the situation. The state superintendent of public instruction, Cindy Hill, said Tuesday that her staff continues to handle information and do its job. She said no one warned her in advance of Seder's testimony, so she wasn't at the meeting to respond.