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Bill Beardsley
Bill Beardsley served as the acting Maine commissioner of education from October 2015 to May 2016. He continued to serve as the acting deputy commissioner of education from May 2016 until his resignation in December 2016.
Beardsley was appointed acting commissioner by Governor Paul LePage on October 16, 2015.[1] Because Maine law stipulates that an individual can only serve as a temporary commissioner for six months, LePage appointed Debra Plowman in May 2016 to serve as the nominal commissioner. Plowman then named Beardsley acting deputy commissioner, a new position which had many of the duties traditionally held by the commissioner of education. Beardsley resigned as acting deputy commissioner in December 2016, citing personal reasons. His last day in the position was December 23, 2016.[2][3][4]
Beardsley's immediate predecessor was Tom Desjardin who had injured his back in September 2015 and was never confirmed by the Maine Senate. Beardsley had served briefly as education commissioner in 2012.[5]
Biography
Beardsley was born in Hanover, N.H., on July 4, 1942. He was president of Husson University from 1987 to 2010 and unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor of Maine in 2010.[6] He was the Maine Commissioner of Conservation from 2011 to 2012. On August 30, 2012, the conservation department along with the Department of Agriculture were merged into the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.[7] LePage appointed Beardsley to an open seat on the State Board of Education after the dissolution of his post.[8][9]
Education
B.A. in economics from Earlham College Ph.D. in economics from Johns Hopkins University[6]
Political career
Acting deputy commissioner of education (2016)
Beardsley was no longer eligible to remain acting commissioner of education after six months. Debra Plowman was appointed to the position in May 2016 on a temporary basis. Plowman named Beardsley acting deputy commissioner of education.[10] According to an order issued by Gov. LePage, the acting deputy commissioner is able to carry out many of the duties traditionally reserved for the commissioner. The position and its duties are set to last until April 2018.[11]
A spokeswoman for Gov. LePage's office explained:
| “ | This is a legal formality. After Dr. Bill Beardsley’s six months as acting commissioner expired, it was necessary for the governor to empower someone at the Department of Education with the authority to sign on behalf of the commissioner. [Plowman] has ratified Bill’s appointment as deputy commissioner for the department and has empowered him to act on behalf of the department. Dr. Beardsley will continue to lead the department and remains a member of the governor’s Cabinet.[12][13] | ” |
Beardsley resigned as acting deputy commissioner of education in December 2016, citing personal reasons. His last day in the position was December 23, 2016.[4]
Acting commissioner of education (2015 - 2016)
LePage named Beardsley acting education commissioner on October 16, 2015. The governor said, “Bill has a strong track record in Maine and elsewhere, broad constituency support and a personal interest in education."[1] Maine law stipulated that Beardsley could only remain in the role for 6 months.[11]
Concerns over status as temporary commissioner
Maine law stipulates that temporary commissioners are only supposed to serve for six months. In April, Gov. LePage appointed Debra Plowman to assume the title of "temporary commissioner." However, a spokesperson for the governor explained that this title was only a technicality and that Beardsley would remain in charge of the department.[10] Pursuant to this, LePage approved a financial order that would allow Beardsley to assume many of the duties of commissioner through April 2018, while remaining a "temporary deputy commissioner."[11] Maine Democrats, like Sen. Rebecca Millett criticized the governor's actions:
| “ | The Department of Education is charged with leading our public schools, education policy and a more than $1 billion budget. Its work touches nearly every single Mainer at some point in their lives. Maine people deserve vetted leadership at the top of DOE. That means a commissioner who received a hearing in front of the Education Committee and a vote by the Senate – not a disciple of Gov. LePage who slid into the job through a back door.[11][13] | ” |
The Maine School Superintendents' Association also called on Gov. LePage to appoint a permanent commissioner who could be confirmed by the Maine State Legislature:
| “ | We urge you to exercise your leadership and outline the process and qualifications you envision for finally naming a permanent commissioner. The uncertainty around that position has … been an ongoing problem since the end of 2014, and our concern is it will continue for the remaining two-and-half years of your second term. School administrators, and their boards, need a well-run Department of Education to effectively run their schools and provide the best education possible for our students. We believe restoring that relationship is essential.[10][13] | ” |
Commissioner of Conservation
Beardsley was the Maine Commissioner of Conservation from 2011 to 2012. On August 30, 2012, the conservation department along with the Department of Agriculture were merged into the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.[14] LePage appointed Beardsley to an open seat on the State Board of Education after the dissolution of his post.[8][15]
Elections
2010
Beardsley unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor of Maine in 2010.[6]
Creationism in school
When he sought the Republican nomination for governor of Maine in 2010, Beardsley said during a debate that he believed in creationism and that it should be taught in schools. He reversed that position in 2015 after his appointment as acting eduction commissioner.[16] He said:
| “ | There’s a place for religion and a place for science. Do I believe in science? Of course I believe in science. My mother was an astronomer. Am I a person of faith? Yes, I happen to be a person of faith. I keep my faith separate from my secular work.[16][13] | ” |
See also
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Maine Department of Education, "Governor LePage announces Dr. William Beardsley will lead Department," October 19, 2015
- ↑ Portland Press Herald, Dennis Hoey, "Superintendents urge LePage to appoint permanent education commissioner," accessed July 31, 2016
- ↑ Portland Press Herald, "LePage signs order that keeps embattled education chief in office," accessed July 31, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bangor Daily News, "Beardsley resigns as leader of LePage’s education team," December 14, 2016
- ↑ Bangor Daily News, "How LePage bent the law to appoint his new education chief," October 20, 2015
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Project Vote Smart, "Profile of Bill Beardsley," accessed August 30, 2012
- ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Maine’s Agriculture and Conservation departments to merge Aug. 30, but little will change" accessed August 30, 2012
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Sun Journal, "LePage appoints departing Commissioner Beardsley to state education board" accessed August 30, 2012
- ↑ Online Sentinel, "LePage picks controversial commissioner for Board of Education," August 29, 2012
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Portland Press Herald, "Superintendents urge LePage to appoint permanent education commissioner," accessed July 31, 2016
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Portland Press Herald, "LePage signs order that keeps embattled education chief in office," accessed August 1, 2016
- ↑ Portland Press Herald, "Titles shuffled at education department to keep LePage’s choice in charge," accessed August 1, 2016
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Maine’s Agriculture and Conservation departments to merge Aug. 30, but little will change" accessed August 30, 2012
- ↑ Online Sentinel, "LePage picks controversial commissioner for Board of Education," August 29, 2012
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Portland Press Herald, "Maine’s acting education commissioner reverses creationism comment," October 20, 2015
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Tom Desjardin |
Acting Maine Commissioner of Education 2015–2016 |
Succeeded by Debra Plowman |
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