Austin School Board Member Mary Kleis was elected to the Minnesota School Boards Association Board of Directors on Jan. 16.

Kleis will serve a two-year term, running a state board consisting of 12 school board members from each area in the state. Kleis’ term runs through Dec. 31, 2010. She represents school board members in southeast Minnesota.

MSBA is a statewide non-profit organization representing 340 Minnesota public school boards. MSBA provides technical assistance, advocates for public school students and offers training opportunities for board members.

MSBA is comprised of 12 districts. School board members from each district elect one board member to a seat on the Board of Directors, which oversees the organization.