The bill removing Glenda Ritz as chairman of the State Board of Education will also remove at least one board member, and possibly more. Ritz is the only elected member of the state board -- the governor appoints the other 10.
The old law said no more than six of those 10 could be from the same party. The new law cuts that number to five.
That will force the replacement of one of six Republicans on the board.
The bill also shifts two of the governor‘s appointments to House Speaker Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis) and Senate President David Long (R-Fort Wayne).
Long says he plans to pick someone with education experience.
"I'd like to find someone who has superintendent experience," says Long. "Someone who's come up as a principal or a superintendent, who know the ins and outs of how our public school system works."
As long as the party-balance requirements are met, the current members can be reappointed.
Governor Pence says he hasn‘t decided how many of his selections will be holdovers from the old board.
