Cruse thanks constituents

In December 2010, I will conclude 16 years of service on the LaRue County Board of Education. I wish to offer my sincere thanks to the voters in my district who have allowed me such an opportunity to serve. During my tenure on the Board, I have had the good fortune to work with three fine superintendents and several equally fine board members.

The last several years have been good for the LaRue County School System. We have managed to build two new elementary schools, perform a much-needed upgrade on our middle school and complete a host of other improvements in our facilities. At the same time, the Board of Education has made a competitive pay scale a top priority, in order to attract the best and brightest to serve in our schools.

During recent years, our scores have shown steady improvement. Our high school ACT scores are well above state average and rank near the top in our region. This is due, no doubt, to the dedication and hard work of our staff members who cannot be praised enough. From kindergarten through grade 12, every person involved in teaching our children is constantly seeking ways to improve in order to offer our kids the best education they can receive.

However, education is not just about test scores and process improvements. LaRue County Schools also offer our students opportunities to grow and develop through many extra-curricular activities. Many of these activities offer our students the chance to compete and excel at a very high level. For example, several of our speech students have competed and won at the national level.

I am excited about our most recent initiative – providing laptop computers to each of our high school students. I feel fortunate to live in such a progressive county, for without the support of so many, we would be unable to offer such a vital tool of learning to our students.

I would like to urge each voter to consider their choice in the upcoming board election. I offer my full support to Michael Hornback in District 3. I know Michael as a devoted husband and father and that he truly has the best interests of our children at heart, with no other agenda than doing the best job he can on the board.

Anita Matherly Cruse

LaRue County School Board member

District 3