Board of Education Gets New President

Ferndale resident Keith Warnick became the newest president of the on Monday night during the annual organization meeting, replacing a 13-year veteran of the job.

Warnick, who for years had served as the board's vice president, replaces Charles Moeser, who told colleagues it was time to give "someone else a chance" to experience the board president's duties.

Until Monday night, Moeser had served as the board's president for 13 years.

By unanimous vote of the board, Moeser in turn took Warnick's place as vice president and said he looks forward to playing a "very different role." Warnick and Moeser are up for reelection in 2012 and 2014 respectively.

"As president, your job is to make sure everyone gets heard," Moeser said. "You don't necessarily get the chance to express all your opinions, and I wanted to be able to express my opinion more and get back to the basics."

Warnick told his colleagues he was happy to fill a new leadership role. "I want to thank Chuck for his work, and I want to thank everyone for this opportunity," Warnick said in accepting the president's job.

Also Monday night, the board elected Trustee Katrina Collins, who did not attend the meeting because she was on vacation, to be the board's secretary. She replaces Jim Pfleger, who was voted in as treasurer.

The 2010-11 Board of Education Treasurer, Karen Twomey, will now serve as a trustee.

Trustees Nancy Kerr-Mueller and Darcey McLaughlin will retain their current roles this coming school year. 

Other organizational business Monday night consisted of fairly routine housekeeping the board must take up every year in accordance with Ferndale's Board of Education bylaws.

The board established the legislative liaisons to various associations such as the Michigan Association of School Boards and the National School Board Association. Members also approved the committee structure, which remains the same this coming school year and includes various committees dealing with issues such as finance and staff relations.

The board announced it will retain the same legal counsel it uses for various legal issues throughout the year as well as the medical facilities it uses for employment physicals and random drug testing.

And the board also will continue to meet at the same time and place for its regularly scheduled meetings throughout the year: 7 p.m. on the third Monday of each month in the .

Correction: A previous article misstated when Keith Warnick was up for reelection. This version of the story reflects that change.