LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Newly-elected Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) District 1 school board member Gail Strange swore her constitutional oath on Tuesday.
She replaced longtime board member and former chairwoman, Diane Porter.
"I am actually ready for the challenge," Strange said.
Strange is a former communications executive who served with the old Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company, and most recently Presbyterian Church U.S.A.
She applied for the same board seat in 2005.
One of her main goals is to close the educational gap for students of color.
"Particularly in District 1; that we have the resources, the facilities and everything our kids need to be successful," Strange said.
When WHAS11 asked her for her stance on the recent transportation disaster and ongoing issues, she said that she hopes "that we continue to be diligent and looking at creative ways to solve this transportation issue."
School board member Corrie Shull answered the same question.
He said proposals are being considered now, and parents should look to hear more information in the coming weeks.
"We want to make sure that they're equitable, we want to make sure that we are not excluding our most vulnerable students," Shull said.
Strange said she is still confident in Superintendent Marty Pollio. She and others started working on his annual evaluation Tuesday evening as well.
In the meantime, she's ready to see JCPS succeed.
"We got a lot of really good information this evening and I think it sets the tone for the work ahead of us," Strange said.
The next school board meeting is Tuesday Feb. 13 at the Van Hoose Education Center.
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