(Des Moines)--Senate Republicans are hoping to reverse the Senate's rejection of the governor's selection of a former northwest Iowa school superintendent to serve on the Iowa Board of Education. The Senate last week failed to confirm Todd Abrahamsonof Arnolds Park who recently retired after serving as superintendent of the Okoboji School District. Senator Molly Donahue, a Democrat from Marion, says Abrahamson's public support of Governor Reynolds' 2024 reorganization of Area Education Agencies is the reason for her no vote.

Senator Lynn Evans, a Republican from Aurelia, who's chairman of the Senate Education Committee, says Abrahamson has been a teacher, coach, principal and superintendent over his 25 year career as an educator.

Abrahamson also worked at Pocahontas Area Community Schools, Grinnell-Newburg, Sigourney, Tri-County in Thornburg, West Central in Maynard and Manson-Northwest Webster. The Senate's Republican Leader has used a parliamentary hold that means Abrahamson's nomination could be revived if a few Democrats change their votes. Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner says so far this year Democrats have voted to confirm all but two of the 161 nominees Reynolds appointed to serve on state boards and commissions and to lead state agencies.

(from Radio Iowa)