BOISE - While the Senate Education Committee readies itself to question State Board of Education trustees about budget problems and staffing issues, some lawmakers are talking about changing the board's duties, if not the membership of the board itself.

Earlier this week, committee members demanded that trustees meet with them to explain how $1.4 million was misspent in 2007, and why the board decided to balance the budget by leaving vacant top-tier positions. The committee chairman said a meeting is likely Feb. 27.

The committee's targets include three former presidents, including Laird Stone, a Twin Falls attorney who was appointed in 2001. Stone's term ends March 1, and he said he wants to serve again.

On Wednesday, Sen. Tom Gannon, R-Buhl, a committee member, said he has seen indications that lawmakers see the State Board of Education as too involved in day to day administrative matters. The sentiment was first brought up earlier this year by the Joint-Finance Appropriations Committee during the board's budget presentation.

"I see signs," said Gannon. "There are some senators saying we should address, 'what is the role of the State Board of Education' and put them in their proper role."

When asked whether Stone should be reappointed, Gannon declined comment. Gannon is the only south-central legislator on the committee.

Stone, who has said he will meet with the senators, said Gannon's lack of comment is simply the senator deferring to the officials process in how appointments are made by the governor and subject to senate approval.

"I don't read into anything of his lack of comment," Stone said. "I don't take it that way (as a lack of a support). I take it in that he doesn't get involved in the process."

The State Board's $1.4 million deficit led to discontinuance of state assessment tests for second- and ninth-graders, and forced a low-income scholarship program to rely on private donations. State Board Interim Director Mike Rush has said that the board responded by balancing the budget and replacing three staff members.

Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene, who chairs the Education Committee, said he wants to meet with Stone because the current problems could be traced back to when Stone was president. Second- and ninth-grade testing, for example, he said, began under Stone's presidency.

Stone said that the testing began under his predecessor, but a new contract provider was signed while he was president. Stone has said the board has worked well, doesn't need its duties changed and that they rely on staff for information, just as any other committee does.

Told that Stone has said the trustees rely on the information provided by staff, Goedde said, "You damn well better have competent staff if you're gonna rely on your staff."

Gannon is among those who say some responsibilities, such as student testing oversight, that were transferred from the Department of Education to the board might've helped cause problems it is facing now. Gannon opposed the decision, made several years ago by the Republican-dominated Legislature in an attempt to undermine the department when it was run by Democrat Marilyn Howard.

The board went from a policy-making body to one with signs of the department that is now involved in the "day-to-day operations" of education, Gannon said.

"They ended up taking on an execution role," he said. "You sort of lost a little of the checks and balances system there."

But he said any reversal is unlikely to surface during the current legislative session because of time constraints; an advisory committee might be formed to make recommendations to be considered in 2009.

Jared S. Hopkins may be reached at 631-793-5717 or jhopkins@Magicvalley.com.