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Brennan Quits Education Post

Brennan Quits Education Post image
Parent Issue
Day
20
Month
December
Year
1972
Copyright
Copyright Protected
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Donated by the Ann Arbor News. © The Ann Arbor News.
OCR Text

LANSING- State Board of Éducation Treasurer Thomas J. Brennan formally submitted his resignation Wednesday to Gov. William G. Milliken. Brennan, who is leaving the SBE to become a Wayne County Circuit Court judge, urged the governor to support ,the work of the often controversial board and praised Dr. John W. Porter, state superintendent of public instruction. Brennan, a Dearborn Democrat, was one of the eight original members of the State Board created by the 1963 constitution and was the ' body's first president in 196566. . The resignation is effective 'Jan. 1 and his successor will be appointed by Gov. Milliken for a term ending Jan. 1, 1979. The governor's office hasn't yet indicated who may be in , line to fill the Brennan vacancy, but appointment of a 'Kepublican would give the I.GOP a working majority on the board for the first time. Two Republicans were elected to the SBE in November, another already is serving, gnd a declared independent appointed by Milliken also is ön the board. , Brennan said he thought the board had numerous accomplishments, but that one of the most significant was seJgrtinn nf Pnrtr as state superintendent. "I was convinced when the -board appointed him that he would become an outstanding educator," B r e n n a n said. "His performance has surpassed my expeetations. A most objective appraisal of Dr. Porter satisfied me that Michigan is blessed with a truly outstanding educational leader." i '. ■ Milliken had at one time i ! proposed that the present 'elected State Board be re■placed by an appointed group or by a single education commissioner, and Breiman took the opportunity in his resignation letter to diplomatically urge the governor on another course. ' "While there can indeed be honest differences as to the best method of selecting board members," Brennan said to the governor, "I feel election at lar ge has achievèd, on balance, an able and representative board. "The elective process has I pfoduce'd a board with broad I and diverse backgrounds and I viewpoints. Such an elected I board is better able to be I sponsive to the educational I needs of the state." Brennan, however, thanked I Milliken and his predecessor, I George Romney, for the I port they had given the board I and its superintendent.