[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 159 (Thursday, November 11, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2356]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IN APPRECIATION OF MS. LESLIE DeMERSSEMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. MARY BONO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 10, 1999

  Mrs. BONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in admiration of the service Leslie 
DeMersseman has given as the 1999 president of the California School 
Board Association.
  Prior to serving at the state level, Leslie DeMersseman exhibited her 
leadership and community concern as a board member of the Palm Springs 
school board for 12 years, presiding over the board for five of those 
years. In addition to her work in Palm Springs, DeMersseman has served 
as a director of the Riverside County School Boards Association since 
1987.
  The California School Board Association is the primary statewide 
organization with the board point of view to set the agenda for 
California's school-children. Under Leslie DeMersseman's leadership 
this organization has been able to work toward improving some of the 
many problems California's public schools are experiencing.
  Leslie DeMersseman has risen to the challenge of actively working to 
better education in the state of California, and as a parent I deeply 
thank her for her efforts. As we seek to find ways to solve the 
problems in our public education system, we need more people like 
Leslie DeMersseman working for our children. It is people like her, 
working at the state and local level, who inspire us and validate our 
efforts to give more control to the states and local education 
authorities.
  It is with great appreciation and respect that I ask my colleagues to 
join me to recognize Leslie DeMersseman for the continuous efforts on 
behalf of children and education throughout Palm Springs, Riverside 
County and the state of California.

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