Judge backs June Atkinson

A superior court judge ruled Friday that Governor Bev Perdue cannot appoint a separate CEO for the public schools.

In January, Perdue named Bill Harrison chairman of the education board and CEO of the public school system. Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson, who was elected by voters, said that effectively diminished her job to that of an ambassador for public instruction.

The judge ruled that the state constitution gives Atkinson the power to be the day-to-day administrator of the state's education bureaucracy.