Miller, for his part, noted that Douglas, by virtue of being elected, is here to stay, at least through the end of her term which runs through 2018. And he agreed with the governor that something had to give.

"She's going to be there another two-plus years,'' he said.

"So I'm the expendable piece,'' Miller said. "She is not.''

Scarpinato said while Ducey wanted Miller out as board president, his decision to leave the board entirely was "one he made on his own, and one we respect.''

But the move also ensures that Ducey will have a firm grip on the 11-member board.

The governor now has three of his own appointees on the board, though one has to be the president of one of the three state universities, pretty much limiting his choices. He already had three slots to fill; Miller's resignation gives him a fourth.

Douglas, in her own statement Wednesday about Miller's resignation, makes no mention of him at all, nor of the more than year-long feud with the board under his direction.

"The superintendent's focus has been on helping Arizona students since she took office,'' said press aide Charles Tack. "That focus has never shifted.''