At least they didn't have to fire any clones

Gary Phillips’ case was one of several involving publicized arrests of DES employees, including one in which the agency may have unlawfully disclosed the name of an employee who was a food stamp recipient.

Gov. Doug Ducey's administration is stepping up the firing of state workers, many of whom can be let go without explanation under a law enacted during his predecessor's administration that revamped the state's personnel system.

A massive personnel reform package pushed through the Legislature by Brewer in 2012 dramatically shifted the balance of power between the state and its employees. The law made most new employees at-large, or “uncovered,” and required covered employees to give up their merit protection in order to receive promotions or raises. Covered employees were offered bonuses to entice them to switch to uncovered status.

Department of Economic Security Director Tim Jeffries has canned 168 employees since he was appointed department head in February, a pace of more than four firings a week. A spokeswoman for the agency could not say how many of those former employees were considered bullies and liars as well.

In January, new state Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas offered a message to state leaders: “Stop the madness.” But events since then suggest the madness was only starting.

Saying the situation for their employees had become intolerable, the state Board of Education this weekend moved its staffers and computers out of the Department of Education.

A state senator is proposing to strip state schools chief Diane Douglas of much of her control over employees of the Board of Education.

It was a week of disarray at the Arizona Department of Education, and the conflict that spawned it may not be over yet.

State schools Superintendent Diane Douglas acquiesced to the Board of Education’s demand that she allow two of its employees back to work after she attempted to fire them, but imposed a set of conditions that could quickly reignite the conflict.