A House committee has unanimously endorsed a bill that would change who runs the state Department of Education.

The House Appropriations Committee approved Senate File 104 last night after hearing nearly two hours of testimony for and against the measure.

The proposal would remove the state superintendent of public instruction as administrator of the Education Department and turn the duties over to a director appointed by the governor.

Supporters say Superintendent Cindy Hill has failed to follow state law on education accountability measures and agency spending.

Testifying before the committee in Cheyenne, Hill defended her administration and her department. She asked all parties in this issue to sit down and work through what problems exist lawmakers have with her department.

Earlier this session, the Legislative Services Offices told a joint education committee panel that Hill’s office has not missed any deadlines in initiating the legislature’s education reform mandates.

Hill says stripping her voter-elected post of its power would reduce the public’s voice in K-12 education in Wyoming.

The bill now goes to the House floor for debate. It has already passed the Senate.

PHOTO: WYO Superintendent Cindy Hill testifying before state lawmakers in Cheyenne.