LT. GOV. TO VISIT CAIRO SCHOOL

CAIRO, Ill. -- Bob Kustra is no stranger in the classroom.

The new Illinois lieutenant governor, who has served in the state's legislature since 1980, has been an educator 20 years, and maintains his strong roots in education by continuing to teach a course in political science at Northwestern University in Evansville.

And he frequently visits classrooms throughout Illinois.

Lt. Gov. Kustra will visit a classroom here today. He is scheduled to address classes at Bennett Elementary School, 434 18th St., at 9 a.m., where he will discuss a drug education program.

The visit to the school here is one of 10 stops for Kustra during an eight-county, three-day swing through Southern Illinois this week, as he concentrates on coordination of the state's education programs and Illinois' anti-drug efforts.

"One of the most rewarding aspects of this new position is that I get to talk with people and listen to their concerns face-to-face," said Kustra. "I'm looking forward to meeting the people of Southern Illinois, and hearing their views on education, improvement and their opinions about what steps to take to combat drug abuses."

Following the visit, he will tour Southern Illinois College of Education Program at Carbondale at 2:30 p.m., where he will visit the SIU Child Development Laboratory and other teacher programs on the war against drugs.

He will address a St. Clair County Lincoln Day Dinner to beheld at Sally O's at Belleville at 6:30 p.m.

Kustra was elected to the Illinois House in 1980, and then to the Illinois Senate in 1982, where he served as an assistant minority leader. As a senator he led Republican efforts to improve the quality of education in Illinois.

Kustra holds a doctorate degree in political science form the University of Illinois. He has taught school at the University of Illinois-Chicago, Roosevelt University, Sangamon State University, and at Lincoln Land Community College.