TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The top public school administrator in Kansas has been suspended after attempting to resign over an offensive remark about Native Americans at a recent public conference.
Education Commissioner Randy Watson’s resignation was announced Friday by Jim Porter, the chairman of the State Board of Education.
The elected 10-member board appoints the commissioner to run the State Department of Education and called a special meeting to deal with Watson’s remark.
The board unanimously rejected Watson’s resignation Friday and suspended him for 30 days, without pay.
The decision comes after Gov. Laura Kelly, three indigenous state legislators and the chair of one of the state’s four Native American nations called on Watson to resign.
© Associated Press
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