July 9, 2013
Speaker Tom Lubnau
Wyoming House of Representatives Wyoming Capitol
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Dear Mr. Lubnau:
I am in receipt of your letter dated July 8 but I am not comforted by it. Notwithstanding your claim that SF 104 was motivated by an effort to organize the Department of Education that had “not been well organized for at least 30 years,” I continue to believe it was personally directed at me. A considerable portion of the debate in both chambers and certainly the public debate across the state focuses on me personally. Indeed the MacPherson investigation was motivated by statements attributed to you during the SF 104 debate that it was your “duty” to investigate the claims of WDE employees, thus forever tying the two issues together.
Had the true objective of SF 104 been to solve organizational problems within the Department of Education, it would have seemed sensible for you to consult with me or previous superintendents for our suggestions. This did not occur.
Had the true objective of SF 104 been to solve organizational problems within the Department of Education, it would have seemed sensible for you to examine the role of the legislature in creating a dysfunctional system. This did not occur.
Had the true objective of SF 104 been to solve organizational problems within the Department of Education, it would have seemed sensible for the legislature to conduct interim hearings and to gather and respect public comment on the subject. This did not occur.
Had the true objective of SF 104 been to solve organizational problems within the Department of Education, it would have seemed sensible for the legislature to review the Ferrari report’s recommendation that a constitutional amendment be considered. This did not occur.
The MacPherson investigation is complete. The facts have been developed. I have been vindicated.
The flimsy substance of the report serves only to confirm that I have not committed any crime, violated any rule or regulation, or disregarded any duty imposed upon my office. Your persistence with this process serves to only confirm that the legislature believes it has limitless power to spend the wealth of Wyoming taxpayers on this continuing sham. I am befuddled about what additional information or conclusion will be the objective of a committee to be appointed.
So you will pardon me if I reject your effort to distinguish your destruction of the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction from the continuing effort to destroy me personally, especially when during my tenure in the position statewide average scores in math improved 9% and in reading improved 12%. In fact, scores increased in every subject matter and grade level tested. This had not occurred in decades. Clearly educational systems are succeeding in spite of overreaching legislative mandates and mounting federal control. A dysfunctional system did not give rise to SF 104 and the people of Wyoming understand your premise is baseless and false.
I will attend the Management Council meeting on Friday where I, and the people of Wyoming, will be watching carefully the steps taken to preserve my due process rights in this progression of events that continues to be clothed in secrecy and insincerity.
Respectfully yours,
Cindy Hill
