FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) — The first regular meeting for the new Board of Education took place in Frankfort Tuesday morning, but if former board members had their way, the meeting would’ve been blocked.
When Governor Andy Beshear took office, he dismantled the former board. Since then, members have been trying to regain their positions.
According to the Courier Journal, the latest move was asking a judge for an emergency injunction, which would have prevented the current board from running the state's school system. A court hearing on the injunction could have happened as early as 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, before the regular meeting was scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.
The new state Board of #Education is meeting for the first time this morning in #Frankfort. The former board was dismantled after Gov. Andy Beshear took office. @LEX18News pic.twitter.com/ExmoRZE3kl
— Alex Valverde (@AlexValverdeTV) February 4, 2020
Interim Commissioner Kevin Brown said he only knew about the injunction because of the article in the Courier Journal. He said since he wasn't told otherwise, Tuesday’s meeting went on as scheduled.
"The board is constituted to do business and that's what we're here doing,” said Brown.
As for the former board members' efforts to take back their seats, Brown said they’re able to do so.
"We have a court system for a reason,” said Brown. “My background is I'm an attorney by training. When there are disputes among citizens of the state, and that's the great thing about living in a democratic republic. That's why we have a court system, to help flesh those decisions out."
A main focus of the newly appointed board is improving student achievement. The board is also in the process looking for a new commissioner.
