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Posted: 10:01 PM- Some lawmakers are again hoping to transform the elected group that oversees the state's public schools into a partisan body with more visibility but less power.

Legislators discussed a proposed bill Wednesday that would nearly double the size of the Utah State Board of Education and make elections to the board partisan. They also discussed a second proposed bill that would give the board's power to appoint the state superintendent to the governor.

The proposals came little more than a week after voters said no to a statewide voucher program opposed by the state school board's chairman but championed by many Republican lawmakers.

As of Wednesday, the proposed bill that would make board elections partisan had no sponsor, but legislators who were most vocal in support of the changes were pro-voucher. The school board refused to implement vouchers early on while courts were pondering the law. Lawmakers supporting the proposals, however, say they are not about payback.

Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper, said lawmakers have discussed changing school board elections several times before and the impetus behind the bills is no different this time.

"I'm afraid I'm walking into a session where every time I disagree, someone would look to exploit that for political gain by saying it's retribution," over vouchers, Hughes said.

Hughes, Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman, and Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, said the changes would illuminate school board elections, which they say are now too disconnected from average people. They say allowing the governor to appoint a superintendent would also help move education policy forward. Opponents, however, including members of the state school board, say the less politics in state education, the better.

"Education shouldn't be a volleyball to be thrown around by partisans," said Kim Burningham, state school board chairman. "It's an attempt to weaken the state board of education."

Sen. Patricia Jones, D-Salt Lake City, said she worries people would base their votes for state school board on candidates' political parties rather than their views and abilities.

Wimmer said the changes have nothing to do with partisanship, a comment that drew laughter from some legislators. He said it has to do with making school board members more accessible to the people they represent.

Stephenson said the changes would "raise the stature of public education in the state of Utah."

"There would be greater opportunity for a better quality of candidates," Stephenson said. He added, however, that the proposal to make school board elections partisan probably wouldn't be considered until the 2009 legislative session for timing reasons.

Hughes said it's not as if the current process isn't already political.

Now, a committee appointed by the governor chooses several candidates for state school board from each of 15 districts. The governor then narrows those choices to two candidates who run in elections for the seats. The proposed bill would expand the number of school board members to 29 to reflect the number of state senate districts, dissolve the committee and make the elections partisan.

State Superintendent Patti Harrington said it won't likely affect her if the governor takes over appointing the superintendent, but she believes the board should remain nonpartisan and her position should be appointed by the board.