Missouri NEA President asks the state Board of Education to have an open process when choosing the next Commissioner of Education.

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Intro:	One of Missouri's leading education organizations attacks the State Board of Education for it's handling of the hiring process for a new state boss of education.
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Wrap: This criticism comes after reports that the state will pick a new Commissioner during a closed process.

For the selection of a new Commissioner, the President of the Missouri National Education Association Charles Smith calls for an open policy in a letter to the state Board of Education.

Rather than just the Board choosing candidates, Smith wants the education communities of Missouri more involved with the selection process.

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Description: "If you close the process, if you don't open it to where everyone can apply, you could possibly miss out on some great candidates."

Current Commissioner Chris Nicastro will retire at the end of the year.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Katie Hynes.

Intro:	The leader of a state education union attacks the State Board of Education for its quick closed-door process for hiring the next boss of education.
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Wrap: In a letter to the state Education Board, the Missouri National Education Association president Charles Smith calls for an open policy when selecting the new Commissioner of Education.

Smith says the next Commissioner needs to welcome community opinions more often when working with school districts.

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Description: "All complicated situations that are going to require a number of strategies that will not have a silver bullet that will solve the problems, the concerns, the issues of those communities."

This criticism comes after reports of a new Commissioner being chosen during next weeks school board meeting after a closed process.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Katie Hynes.

Intro:	The state's leading teaching union attacks the Education Board for its handling of hiring a new state education boss in a letter to the Board.
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Wrap: The letter follows reports of a new Commissioner of Education being chosen without a public selection process.

President of the Missouri National Education Association Charles Smith;

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Description: "When you have an open process and when you have a transparent process where people can see what's going on, when they fully understand what's going on then it invites, a collaborative and a cooperative relationship. And that's what we need now."

The state Board of Education meets next week.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Katie Hynes.