Riley pledges enviable education system

BYLINE: WILLIAM C. SINGLETON III News staff writer

Gov. Bob Riley promised Wednesday that if re-elected he would continue efforts to make Alabama's education system worldclass.

''We've brought more reform in the last four years than in the last 30 years,'' he said in Irondale during a campaign stop.

The general election is Nov. 7.

But he's not finished, he said. ''I want you to imagine an Alabama by 2010 that has an education system that every other state wants to be like. . . . Ladies and gentlemen, we can do it.''

Riley spoke during a brief appearance at the Irondale Fire Station No. 2. Standing on a flatbed truck platform with Shades Valley High School as a background, Riley touted the portion of his Plan 2010 that focuses on education.

The Republican governor said that through the Alabama Reading Initiative; the Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative; and distance-learning, students in poor communities have improved their test scores and have access to better teachers.

He also said he wants to make sure every high school in Alabama offers advanced placement courses in all of the four basics.

''We can do it in the next four years,'' Riley said.

Riley encouraged supporters to elect state Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin, R-Pelham, and Luther Strange, the GOP candidate for lieutenant governor.

''Send me a lieutenant governor who will not fight everything I'm trying to do and will support it,'' he said. ''He believes in this plan. I believe in it.''

McClurkin and Strange attended the campaign stop in Irondale.

EMAIL: wsingleton@bhamnews.com