Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

May 19, 2005

State Board of Education Elects
New Officers for 2005-06

The State Board of Education today elected new officers for 2005-06, effective July 1. Peter F. Herschend, Branson, was elected president of the board, and Russell V. Thompson, Columbia, was elected vice president.

Mr. Herschend was appointed to the board in December 1991 and re-appointed for another term in November 1999. He previously served as president of the board from 1994-96. He is co-owner and vice chairman of Herschend Family Entertainment Corp., Branson, which owns Silver Dollar City and other entertainment properties.

Mr. Herschend has been vice-president of the board since 2002. He succeeds long-time board member Tom Davis, Kansas City, who has been president the past three years.

Dr. Thompson was appointed to the board in November 1994 and re-appointed in December 2002. He also is a former president of the board (2000-02). He is a retired educator who served the Columbia Public Schools as superintendent for nearly 20 years.

The eight-member State Board of Education has authority to set policies and standards for Missouri’s public schools (Pre-K-12). Members of the board are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate.

The board’s major duties include overseeing the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, accrediting Missouri’s 524 public school districts, defining assessment standards for use by public schools, and establishing certification requirements for all public school teachers and administrators.