Page 8 - AASBO EDGE Fall 2021 WEB

ASBO INTERNATIONAL

BY DON HARRIS
Mike Barragan
Mike Barragan Elected to ASBO International Board;

Wants to Get Congress More Involved

Mike Barragan, newly elected member of the goes back to the 1970s. “I’m talking about not
ASBO International Board of Directors, will being fully funded by the federal government,
be taking his mission – All in for All Kids – to with the state picking up the difference,” he
another level. said. “It’s still not fully funded.”

Barragan, assistant superintendent for Finance “Being active in ASBO International
and Auxiliary Services, Glendale Elementary helps highlight the good things that
School District, wants to contribute at the
international level, utilizing the skills and we do in Arizona.”
knowledge he has gained while advocating for
students in Glendale and throughout Arizona. Even before the current administration pushed
“I want to work through ASBO International to for funding to help schools get through the
get Congress more engaged in the educational coronavirus pandemic, there was a continuing
needs of our children,” Barragan said. “I need for infrastructure improvements for
believe I can contribute to that. Our members aging school facilities, Barragan said. “I don’t
need to improve the advocacy in the halls of want the federal government totally involved
Congress.” in that – something like the state and feds kind
of meeting in the middle.”
A lack of congressional action has been evident
for decades, Barragan said. For example, he Barragan, a former AASBO President and
recalled that funding for special educations member of the Board of Directors, was elected
to a three-year term on the International Board.
He joins a small group of Arizonans who have
been elected to the International, including
former ASBO Presidents Brian Mee and Tom
Wohlleber, along with Dr. Ron Richards and
his dad Ernie Richards, both who served as
Directors.

Mee, AASBO’s current Executive Director,
congratulated Barragan, saying: “It is vitally
important for Arizona to be represented on the
ASBO International Board, and Mike is the
perfect person for that position. His diligence

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8 THE EDGE FALL 2021