14 Red Carpet Schools Named in Upstate

14 Upstate schools have been named Red Carpet schools. Below is the release from the SC Department of Education.

COLUMBIA – Forty-two schools were honored today with Red Carpet awards to recognize their success at creating family-friendly school environments and providing excellent customer service.

State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex announced the winners of this year’s awards, which have become highly prized by South Carolina schools.  The schools will receive actual red carpets to display in their lobbies.

“Schools that are parent-friendly, schools that have strong customer service, are more likely to be supported by their communities,” Rex said.  “Community involvement can play a big part in a school’s academic success.  This year’s Red Carpet winners understand and strive for that.”

Two hundred schools began the award application process last fall.  Applicants provided written details about their family-friendly philosophies and environments, along with the methods used to promote and self-evaluate those efforts.  They also were required to include copies of their school’s communication plan.

Schools that passed the written application phase were then screened by independent judges who rated how telephone callers and visitors were treated.  Judges did not identify themselves during telephone calls or site visits, and site visits were not announced in advance.

Winning schools receive red carpets with the state seal to display in their lobbies, and they maintain their recognition status for a three-year period. 

This year’s recipients include one primary school, 30 elementary schools, six middle schools, two high schools, one technical school, one charter school and one learning center for special needs students. 

Red Carpet coordinator Frank White said Kershaw County schools led the awards parade with four winners this year.  The Aiken, Greenville, Dorchester Two and Richland Two school districts had three winners each.

“This level of participation shows that schools understand how important parent and community support are to their success,” White said.  “Schools are genuinely interested in improving their customer service functions.”

Staff members from the Department of Education and school district personnel from across the state volunteered to take part in the judging process.  An “In Our Schools” program on SCETV last fall featured an in-depth look at three Red Carpet Schools from 2007-08.

The Red Carpet Schools initiative was one of only two programs in the nation to receive a Distinguished Single Project Award from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) in 2003.  The program has also been featured in NSPRA’s monthly newsletter as well as the monthly newsletter of the National Elementary Principals Association. 

This year’s winners provide many examples of family and community-friendly programs:
• At Marlboro County High School, the cosmetology program provides services to parents at a discount. The horticulture class grows plants and flowers for sale to the public. Proceeds are donated to the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life Campaign.
• Conder Elementary in Richland District Two has assigned a mailing address to each classroom and the main office. A standard-sized red mailbox stands beside the school’s main driveway. Without leaving their cars, parents can leave written messages not only for students, but also for any member of the faculty or staff.
• In order to make the school’s front entrance area more appealing and to call attention to the doors visitors should use, Wateree Elementary School in Kershaw County refurbished the entrance area and installed a bright red awning that clearly marks the entrance to the main office.
• Springdale Elementary in Lexington District Two began “Make My Monday” telephone calls this year. Each week, teachers send the school’s administrative staff the names of students who have done something positive and whose parents should be told. On Monday, the school’s principal and assistant principal call the parents of three students from each classroom. Their calls are ended with: “We hope this makes your Monday!”
• Orangeburg School District Five’s Dover Elementary is located in an area with many low-income families and a very high unemployment rate. The faculty, staff and local community work together closely to ensure that poverty does not prevent students from receiving all that the school can offer. One community member makes certain that all fifth graders interested in joining the school’s band have an instrument if they are unable to afford one. Other local citizens sponsor field trips. A computer recycler donated headphones for the computer lab and laptop bags for every student and teacher.

Schools are judged on a variety of factors, including the exterior and interior appearance of the campus, the way people were treated in person and over the telephone, and the information and programs available for families and visitors.  Specific items that judges evaluated on their site visits included: 

Outside
• Clearly marked visitor parking spaces near the front door.
• Well-kept grounds that are free of debris and trash.
• Plainly marked entrances, particularly the main entrance door.

Front entrance/lobby
• Clean and appealing lobby/front entrance.
• “Welcome to our school” signs that clearly direct visitors to the main office.
• Attractive, colorful displays of student achievement and school events.

Office
• Clean and tidy front office.
• Reading material about the school available for visitors.
• Welcoming and professionally dressed staff who greet visitors promptly and quickly ask to offer assistance.
• Visitor badges available.

Telephone
• Telephones that are answered promptly (within three rings) and professionally.
• Person answering the phone has basic, up-to-date information readily accessible.
• Callers are put through to appropriate parties promptly.

2009 Red Carpet winners
District                       School
Aiken East Aiken Elementary School
Aiken Mossy Creek Elementary School
Aiken Warrenville Elementary School
Anderson 2 Belton Elementary School
Berkeley Bonner Elementary School
Charleston James Island Elementary School
Darlington Carolina Elementary School
Dorchester 2 Alston Middle School
Dorchester 2 Fort Dorchester Elementary School
Dorchester 2 Spann Elementary School
Georgetown McDonald Elementary School
Greenville Beck Academy
Greenville Buena Vista Elementary School
Greenville Lakeview Middle School
Greenwood 50 Merrywood Elementary School
Hampton 1 Ben Hazel Primary School
Hampton 1 Brunson Elementary School
Kershaw Applied Technology Campus
Kershaw North Central Middle School
Kershaw Pine Tree Hill Elementary School
Kershaw Wateree Elementary School
Lexington 1 Pleasant Hill Elementary School
Lexington 2 Brookland-Cayce Grammar School No. 1
Lexington 2 Springdale Elementary School
Marlboro Marlboro County High School
Newberry Prosperity-Rikard Elementary School
Oconee Fair Oak Elementary School
Oconee Oakway Intermediate School
Orangeburg 5 Dover Elementary School
Pickens A.R. Lewis Elementary School
Pickens Gettys Middle School
Richland 1 Logan Elementary School
Richland 1 Richland One Middle College
Richland 2 Conder Elementary School
Richland 2 Round Top Elementary School
Richland 2 Sandlapper Elementary School
Spartanburg 1 Chapman High School
Spartanburg 3 Cannons Elementary School
Spartanburg 5 Florence Chapel Middle School
Spartanburg 6 Woodland Heights Elementary School
Spartanburg 7 Jesse Boyd Elementary School
Spartanburg 7 McCarthy-Teszler School