Devos Confirmation Controversial in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, NC — Billionaire Betsy Devos is the new secretary of education. Vice President Mike Pence swore her in Tuesday evening.

Pence cast a historic, tie-breaking vote to confirm her after the senate was split on President Trump’s controversial pick.

Many in the Charlotte education community say Devos could hurt public education.

“Not only does she not have experience,” says Kayla Romero with Students For Ed Reform. “But she also is just not knowledgeable about a lot of, again, just basic things that are priorities and concerns for a lot of students and families. ”

Romero is one of several Charlotte voices questioning the confirmation of education secretary Betsy Devos.

Thousands of calls and messages have streamed into North Carolina senators Tom Tillis and Richard Burr, asking them to vote against her.

“There’s a lot of concern about her lack of experience in the field of education,” says Charlotte middle school teacher Justin Parmenter. “About her lack of commitment to public education. And we’re concerned about what that will mean for us in the classroom and our students.”

Charlotte activist Ray McKinnon, whose wife is a teacher, says it’s Devos’ very public support of private charter schools that has educators worried she might…

“Take funding from public education, giving them to charter schools that do not have the same mandates,” says McKinnon. “That do not have the same level of accountability.”

Devos’ lack of experience with public schools, and her bankrolling of efforts like school vouchers, leaves many wondering if she will stand up for every student.

“She may not be willing to protect, and stand up for, civil rights,” says Romero. “And especially right now, that is a huge concern for students”

This is the first time a vice-president has ever had to decide a vote in the Senate on a presidential cabinet nomination.