Long County High School and Smiley Elementary School were recognized by the Long County Board of Education at a Jan. 11 meeting for earning awards from the governor’s office.
LCHS won a platinum award through the single statewide accountability system in the greatest gains category for the 2008-09 school year.
According to Assistant Superintendent Dr. Glen Purcell, the high school received the distinction for placing in the 98th percentile in student achievement gains, by having over 35 percent of the school students exceed standards in all state assessment tests and by making Adequate Yearly Progress for three consecutive years.
SES won a silver award through the SSAS for greatest gains in the 2008-09 school year. Purcell said the elementary school placed in the 96th percentile, by having at least 25 percent of the school’s students exceed standards in all state assessment tests, and by making AYP for two consecutive years.
Single statewide accountability system awards are either bronze, silver, gold or platinum.
"Smiley was one of only 13 elementary schools to receive this award, and the high school was one of only eight high schools to receive their award in the state, so these schools earning this distinction is quite an achievement," Purcell said.
System Special Education Director Donna Manning told board members that the school system itself received two awards from the Georgia Department of Education for excellence in educating students with disabilities.
According to Manning, the system received a certificate for highest performance and another for meeting the state target.
Manning said the performance award was given for the system achieving a higher percentage of students attaining a regular education degree. The target award was given to the system for meeting state target guidelines regarding students with regular education diplomas, reducing the drop-out rate and educating in a least restrictive environment.
In other business, the BoE:
• Elected Vice Chairman Dempsey Golden as the chairman for 2010.
• Elected previous Chairwoman Florence Baggs as the vice chair for 2010.
• Appointed Kathy Simmons to the Long County Library Board, replacing outgoing member Pryce Chapman.
• Stated that non-certified employees such as paraprofessionals, custodians, bus drivers and cafeteria workers would be given clarification in the near future on when their three furlough days would be taken for the 2009-10 school year.
• Reported that H1N1 vaccinations would be available for all students with parental approval.
• Approved modifications to plans for the additions at SES.