After lengthy debate, the House schools and learning council just approved a proposed education governance overhaul to restore an elected education commissioner, strip the Board of Governors of its power over state universities and create a new system of "state colleges.''

House Speaker Marco Rubio even stepped into the meeting room to make a (silent) appearance.

Chancellor Mark Rosenberg said after the 9-6 vote, "many of those who voted for it had reservations, and that tells you this is not a done deal."

-- Shannon Colavecchio-Van Sickler, Times staff writer