Tom Gunlock was elected president of the state school board this morning in a 12-7 vote that mostly followed party lines on what is, officially at least, a non-partisan board.

Gunlock, a Centerville Republican and one of eight appointees of Gov. John Kasich on the board, was vice president of the board last year.

He defeated new board member and Democrat Pat Bruns, of Cincinnati, who had been nominated by a coalition of seven Democratic members. The only Democrat voting for Gunlock was A.J. Wagner of Dayton.

That coalition has promised to work together to have their voice heard about school funding, standardized testing and charter schools, despite being a minority on the board.

Republican Tess Elshoff of New Knoxville was elected as vice president with an 11-8 vote.

She beat longtime member Michael Collins, who was also nominated by the coalition of Democrats. Wagner joined the seven members of the coalition in voting for Collins.

Board member Mary Rose Oakar, of Cleveland, nominated Collins and urged the board to elect him in the spirit of both parties working together.

(Read more at Cleveland.com)