It’s no secret that this newspaper al-ways has believed Karl Frank Jr. to be an outstanding member of the Mehl-ville Board of Education.

Mr. Frank’s service to the community as a board member has been exemplary. He first was elected in 2005 — when the district was at a crossroads as a misguided majority of the board seemed determined to run Mehlville into the ground.

Mr. Frank’s leadership helped re-verse the direction in which the district was headed and Mehlville voters entrusted him to a second three-year term in the 2008 election.

At the Mehlville School District’s annual Recognition Night last week, Mr. Frank joined some distinguished company when he was presented the School Bell Award by the Mehlville National Education Association. The Mehlville NEA School Bell Award is presented annually to a member of the community who has made significant contributions to the education of Mehlville School District students.

Past recipients of the School Bell Award include former Board of Edu-cation member and longtime district supporter Dan Fowler and state Rep. Sue Schoemehl of Oakville.

Besides being in such elite company, Mr. Frank had a personal connection to the award because his late grandfather Kurt Frank, a 1942 graduate of Mehlville, also was a recipient of the School Bell Award.

In presenting the School Bell Award last week, Mehlville NEA President Kay Cappos stated: “This individual is a proud product of the Mehlville School District and currently entrusts his children’s education to our district as well as operating a successful business in Mehlville. This individual stepped forward several years ago as a catalyst for the positive change our district is presently enjoying. This year’s award winner has served one successful term on our Board of Ed-ucation, bringing stability, transparency in communication and integrity to the Mehlville School District …

“After he was elected to a second term to the board, this year’s recipient was instrumental in moving the district forward through the passage of Proposition T, improving the school district’s financial situation …”

She concluded by stating, “Because of his devoted service to our district, the Mehlville NEA is proud to present its 2008-2009 School Bell Award to Karl Frank Jr.”

We couldn’t agree more.

Congratulations, Mr. Frank, on re-ceiving the School Bell Award. It truly is deserved.