1st appointment made to revamped Indiana education board

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – A retired school district superintendent from northeastern Indiana is the first new member announced for the revamped State Board of Education.

Republican Senate President Pro Tem David Long appointed Steve Yager on Wednesday. The terms of the current board members will expire Monday under changes to the board’s makeup. The changes were approved after a contentious legislative debate about conflicts between the Republican-dominated board and Democratic state schools Superintendent Glenda Ritz.

Yager retired in 2014 after more than 20 years as superintendent of the Northwest Allen County or Southwest Allen County districts near Fort Wayne.

Ritz remains chairwoman of the education board under the new law. Republican Gov. Mike Pence loses two of his 10 board appointments. One appointment goes to Long and one to GOP House Speaker Brian Bosma.