Democrats are still a minority on the state school board, but several are banding together to try to make one of them president or vice president of the board.

That's the first step in a planned push by Democrats, who gained two seats on the 19-member board in November, to take a more active role in support of "public education," meaning, traditional public schools instead of charter schools.

The members will explain their new agenda to the public Friday morning in a conference call with media.

The board will select new leadership at its first meeting of the new year on Monday, with last-year's vice president, Tom Gunlock, the clear favorite for the position.

Gunlock, an appointee of Gov. John Kasich who did much of the work to redesign the state's report cards for schools and districts, had been wavering on whether to seek the spot. He told The Plain Dealer this week that he is interested, but will not actively campaign for it.

Board members pointed to Ron Rudduck, a Wilmington Republican, as a likely nominee for vice president.

(Read more at Cleveland.com)