99 schools earn Red Carpet Awards for being family-friendly, having quality customer service
Nearly a hundred 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 Inez Tenenbaum 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.
“These schools provide a welcoming climate for parents and community members alike,” State Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum said. “They have a positive attitude, an inviting appearance and the friendly touches that make each visitor feel like part of the school family.”
More than 300 schools applied for the award last fall. Applicants provided written details about their family-friendly philosophies and environments, along with the methods used to self-evaluate those efforts. They also were required to include copies of their schools’ communication plans.
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.
Over the past four years, 388 schools have been recognized in the program. Winning schools receive actual 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 62 elementary schools, three intermediate schools, 19 middle schools, two combined middle/high schools, 12 high schools and one child development center.
“The variety of winners shows that a positive atmosphere can be created in any school setting,” Tenenbaum said. “A school that embraces and involves parents and the public in decision-making is a school where students will succeed.”
“There’s real interest in winning Red Carpet recognition,” said program coordinator Frank White. “Each year, about one-fourth of the schools in the state apply, and the list of winners is eagerly anticipated. It’s heartening to realize how many are fine-tuning their customer service skills to build better relationships.”
Funds for the actual red carpets are provided as part of a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department’s Truancy Center.
Members of the South Carolina chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (SC/NSPRA), and staff from the Department of Education, Communities in Schools and current Red Carpet Schools volunteered to take part in the judging process.
"A positive school environment and positive relationships between teachers, students, parents, staff, and the community are instrumental in supporting high student achievement," said SC/NSPRA President Oby G. Lyles. "SC/NSPRA is proud to partner with the State Department of Education to evaluate the level of customer service and communications efforts by schools vying for Red Carpet School status."
In addition to recognition, the Red Carpet Schools program sends weekly electronic customer service tips provided by SC/NSPRA to all interested schools. A live teleconference featuring the principals of four Red Carpet Schools from 2003-04 was broadcast to all schools last fall; it included a question-and-answer period and video tours of award-winning schools.
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.
Across the state, Red Carpet schools show many examples of family and community-friendly programs:
· Mellichamp Elementary School in Orangeburg Consolidated District Five keeps a “Red Carpet Notebook” by the main office telephone. The notebook contains school data, procedures, lists of current events, a school calendar and up-to-date class and student information. The notebook allows staffers who answer the telephone to quickly provide callers with current, accurate school information.
· Brennen Elementary School in Richland District One hand delivers flyers and announcements to people who live near the school to let them know about school events and to invite them to participate.
· At North Aiken Elementary School, color-coded floor tiles allow visitors to find their way easily to the location they are seeking.
· Representatives from business and industry in Spartanburg District Six serve on Dorman High School’s Business Advisory Board. The board meets regularly with Dorman’s administrators, faculty and staff to share insights into changes in the business and professional world.
· Gaffney’s local newspaper, The Gaffney Ledger, provides a “Roll Call” service where teachers at Limestone-Central Elementary School are assigned extension numbers that are published in The Ledger. Parents can call the extension and hear their child’s teachers providing timely information.
· All teachers at Macedonia Middle School in Berkeley County School District must make a minimum of five parent contacts each week, and at least three of those must be positive.
Schools were 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.
2006 Red Carpet winners
District School
Aiken County School District North Aiken Elementary School
Aiken County School District Ridge Spring-Monetta Elementary/Middle
Anderson School District 2 Belton Middle School
Anderson School District 3 Starr-Iva Middle School
Anderson School District 4 Pendleton High School
Anderson School District 5 Southwood Middle School
Beaufort County School District Michael C. Riley Elementary School
Beaufort County School District Robert Smalls Middle School
Berkeley County School District Berkeley Middle School
Berkeley County School District Macedonia Middle School
Berkeley County School District St. Stephen Elementary School
Charleston County School District St. Andrew's School of Math & Science
Cherokee County School District Limestone-Central Elementary School
Cherokee County School District Northwest Elementary School
Chester County School District Great Falls Middle School
Chester County School District Lewisville Middle School
Chester County School District Chester Park Center of Literary through Technology
Darlington County School District St. John's Elementary School
Dorchester School District 2 Beech Hill Elementary School
Dorchester School District 2 Fort Dorchester Elementary School
Fairfield County School District Fairfield Intermediate School
Florence School District 1 Moore Intermediate School
Florence School District 3 Olanta Elementary School
Fort Mill School District 4 Gold Hill Elementary School
Georgetown County School District Waccamaw High School
Greenville County School District Bethel Elementary School
Greenville County School District Heritage Elementary School
Greenville County School District Hollis Academy
Greenville County School District Mitchell Road Elementary School
Greenville County School District Mountain View Elementary School
Greenville County School District Slater-Marietta Elementary School
Greenwood School District 52 Ninety Six High School
Hampton School District 1 Ben Hazel Primary School
Horry County School District Carolina Forest High School
Horry County School District Forestbrook Middle School
Horry County School District Loris Middle School
Horry County School District St. James Middle School
Kershaw County School District North Central Middle School
Kershaw County School District Wateree Elementary School
Lancaster County School District Buford Elementary School
Lancaster County School District Clinton Elementary School
Lancaster County School District Indian Land Elementary/Middle School
Lancaster County School District Kershaw Elementary School
Lancaster County School District McDonald Green Elementary School
Lancaster County School District North Elementary School
Lancaster County School District South Middle School
Lancaster County School District 1 Andrew Jackson High School
Laurens School District 55 Ford Elementary School
Lexington School District 1 Gilbert Elementary School
Lexington School District 1 Gilbert Primary School
Lexington School District 1 Red Bank Elementary School
Lexington School District 2 Airport High School
Lexington School District 3 Batesburg-Leesville Elementary School
Lexington/Richland School District 5 Ballentine Elementary School
Lexington/Richland School District 5 Chapin Middle School
Lexington/Richland School District 5 Dutch Fork Elementary School
Lexington/Richland School District 5 Irmo Middle School
Lexington/Richland School District 5 Lake Murray Elementary School
Lexington/Richland School District 5 River Springs Elementary School
Marion School District 1 Marion Intermediate School
Newberry County School District Mid-Carolina High School
Newberry County School District Pomaria-Garmany Elementary School
Oconee County School District Fair-Oak Elementary School
Oconee County School District J.N. Kellett Elementary School
Oconee County School District Keowee Elementary School
Oconee County School District West-Oak High School
Orangeburg School District 5 Mellichamp Elementary School
Orangeburg School District 5 North Middle High School
Orangeburg School District 5 Whittaker Elementary School
Pickens County School District Crosswell Elementary School
Pickens County School District Dacusville Elementary School
Pickens County School District Hagood Elementary School
Pickens County School District Holly Springs Elementary School
Pickens County School District Liberty Elementary School
Pickens County School District West End Elementary School
Richland School District 1 Brennen Elementary School
Richland School District 1 Carver-Lyon Elementary School
Richland School District 1 Forest Heights Elementary School
Richland School District 1 Gadsden Elementary School
Richland School District 2 Bookman Road Elementary School
Richland School District 2 Clemson Road Child Development Center
Richland School District 2 Pontiac Elementary School
Richland School District 2 Spring Valley High School
Rock Hill School District 3 Oakdale Elementary School
Rock Hill School District 3 Sullivan Middle School
Spartanburg School District 1 Inman Elementary School
Spartanburg School District 2 Chesnee Middle School
Spartanburg School District 2 James H. Hendrix Elementary School
Spartanburg School District 3 Cannons Elementary School
Spartanburg School District 5 Florence Chapel Middle School
Spartanburg School District 5 River Ridge Elementary School
Spartanburg School District 6 Dorman High School
Spartanburg School District 6 Lone Oak Elementary School
Spartanburg School District 6 Pauline-Glenn Springs Elementary School
Spartanburg School District 7 Jesse Boyd Elementary School
Sumter School District 2 Lakewood High School
Sumter School District 17 Chestnut Oaks Middle School
Union County School District Foster Park Elementary School
Union County School District Jonesville Elementary School