OLYMPIA — A hearing on the governor’s call for a new Department of Education on Wednesday evolved into a debate mostly on whether voters deserve and the state needs an elected Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Gov. Chris Gregoire kicked off the hearing on her proposal to abolish statewid

e boards dealing with education from pre-school to college and transferring their functions to a single agency run by someone she — and future governors — would appoint.

The kicker in Senate Bill 5639 is the handling of the job now held by schools Superintendent Randy Dorn.

Gregoire’s proposal would absorb Dorn and his office into the agency. But, she’s also supporting a bill to amend the state Constitution so the superintendent is no longer an elected position. If it went to voters and passed, the job would become an administrative post in the new department.

“The status quo in my opinion is simply not meeting the needs of our students in the 21st century,” she told members of the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee.

After the hearing she added: “When I go out and talk to the public, do you actually believe that they think I am not in charge of education? They absolutely believe I am in charge of education and they’re constantly holding me accountable for something that’s gone wrong in the K-12 system. So I’m saying if the public is holding me accountable, make me accountable. I’ll accept that responsibility and I will be accountable.”

Dorn doesn’t see it the same way and thinks voters eventually will preserve their voice in the running of public schools.

“The governor said she’s being held responsible for education. I actually would disagree. In the last election, she did pretty good. My predecessor didn’t do very good,” Dorn said. “I believe she was held responsible for education and the public didn’t like the assessment system so we’re changing it. I really believe that OSPI is held responsible for education.

Dorn suggested that the governor could instead hire a coordinator for early learning through higher education who would have the power of the governor’s office. He and his staff would work with that person.

“One thing I tell myself is, is this bill truly going to make a difference for a third grader in Okanagan,” Dorn said. “Is it going to make his life better and I really don’t think so. I think we’ll have about the same results we have today.”

Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell, chairwoman of the Senate committee, called Wednesday’s hearing a “good initial discussion.”

“One education leader under the governor would provide a collaborative system working on behalf of all students’ learning needs,” she said. “I applaud the governor’s leadership and look forward to continued discussion regarding her proposal.”

Wednesday marked the beginning of the bill’s legislative journey. It must clear the committee and be passed by the Senate before it will be sent to the House of Representatives for additional committee hearings and votes.

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.