He’s been guiding Nebraska schools through the pandemic, but if some get their way State Education Commissioner Matthew Blomstedt, his education department and the State Board of Education are a thing of the past and need a new look.

But a petition drive to change the state constitution regarding those top educators has nothing to do with the pandemic.

If you thought last year’s fights over sex education, CSE, and critical race theory, CRT, in Nebraska schools had peaked, they haven’t, and the Department of Education is still taking flak.

Sen. Steve Erdman: “I don't need to tell you what they did last year with CSE and CRT, that department is poorly ran and poorly managed.

The head of the Education Department is Matthew Blomstedt, in charge since 2014, in charge during the pandemic.

Blomstedt: Obviously these are very unusual times.

But for all the controversy over closing schools its sex education and CRT that continue to simmer.

It was just last summer when the ACLU was backing those pushing for what it called, “age-appropriate health education” adding “We’re grateful for the board members who advocated for best practices in Nebraska schools.”                                    

But Erdman, a veteran highly conservative Republican lawmaker sees things otherwise.

Erdman: That department is a department that needs to go away. My personal opinion is that anything Blomstedt is in favor of, I’m opposed.

Meanwhile, a petition drive is underway that aims to replace the State Board of Education, the education commissioner and the Department of Education with a new Office of Education accountable to the governor and Legislature.