John Austin Re-elected as President of the State Board Of Education

January 15, 2012 LANSING ? The State Board of Education today unanimously re-elected John C. Austin to serve as President. "I appreciate the confidence and support of my fellow State Board members," Austin said. "This Board is demonstrating its leadership and ability to steer the education agenda towards the common ground that helps students in Michigan achieve." With newly-elected Board members Lupe Ramos-Montiny and Michelle Fecteau being ceremoniously sworn into office by State Superintendent Mike Flanagan at the beginning of today's monthly Board meeting, the Board voted to elect officers. Following the re-election of Austin as President, Casandra Ulbrich was re-elected as Vice President; Daniel Varner was elected Board Secretary; Richard Zeile as Treasurer; and Fecteau was elected to represent the State Board on the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE). The State Board also approved conducting a series of public forums around the state to "encourage and facilitate public engagement and thoughtful discussion of current education issues, education reforms, financing proposals, and potential legislation." Detail on the times, dates, and locations will be forthcoming.