The Illinois State Board of Education has selected a new schools chief.
The board unanimously voted Wednesday to name Anthony ``Tony'' Smith to replace Superintendent Christopher Koch beginning May 1st. Koch was one of the longest-serving state superintendents in the nation. He's been in the post since 2006 and has overseen changes to testing and teacher evaluations.
The board also approved an $89,000 severance package for Koch. Illinois State Board of Education Chairman James Meeks says the move had nothing to do with Chris Koch's performance
Smith is a former superintendent of schools of the Oakland Unified School District in Oakland, California. He resigned in April of 2013 to move to Chicago where he's currently director of the nonprofit W. Clement and Jesse V. Stone Foundation in Oak Park. Chairman Meeks calls Smith a ``visionary'' who will ``move the needle'' on education reform. Board members say Smith was the sole candidate for the job recommended by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. A blog associated with the Oakland Education Association says Smith was a proponent of charter schools and privatization, school consolidation and union busting while superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District.
Smith will be paid $255,000 in hid new job as State Superintendent.
