Wednesday, March 10, 2010

RAE BELISLE: Schwarzenegger withdraws nomination to state school board

posted to CapitolAlert, the SacBee blog by Jim Sanders

March 5, 2010 -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has withdrawn his controversial nomination of Rae Belisle, former president of the EdVoice advocacy group, to a four-year term on the California Board of Education.

Schwarzenegger, in a one-sentence letter Thursday to the Senate, announced that he was withdrawing Belisle's name but did not elaborate. His staff declined further comment.

<<Belisle, 54, was placed on the board by Schwarzenegger in March 2009, but state law allowed her to serve only one year unless confirmed by the Senate before Thursday.

Belisle's nomination was likely to spark a confirmation fight. EdVoice has clashed in the past with major education groups, including the California Teachers Association, on issues ranging from charter schools to recent Race to the Top legislation that failed to secure federal school-reform funds.

Belisle, an attorney, has had a long career of school-related service that includes stints as chief counsel to the Sacramento County Office of Education and as executive director of the state board of education.

♪smf notes:  Belisle, a charter school proponent, served briefly in LAUSD’s office of legal counsel

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