Betsy DeVos declines offer to visit Spokane-area schools

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has declined an invitation to visit Spokane-area schools.

A staff member for DeVos sent Michael Dunn, the superintendent of Educational Service District 101, an email stating: “Although Secretary DeVos is unable to commit to a visit at this time, we do plan to hold onto your invitation for future consideration in case she plans to visit the region.”

Dunn sent DeVos an invitation in an open letter last week.

Dunn invited to DeVos to visit the region because of his concerns that she doesn’t know enough about public education in Washington. He hoped to show her the good work being done by educators in Eastern Washington, he said

“Call me crazy…I had hoped she would visit,” Dunn wrote in an email. “At least, I didn’t think it hurt to ask, even as some may have disagreed.”

DeVos, a billionaire philanthropist, is well-known for her support of charter schools and private school vouchers. She was narrowly confirmed as President Donald Trump’s secretary of education by the Senate on Feb. 7.