FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 19, 2008 / Red Carpet winners 2008
66 schools earn Red Carpet Awards for being family-friendly, having
quality customer service
COLUMBIA – Sixty-six 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,” said
State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex. “And community involvement
can play a big part in schools’ academic success. This year’s Red
Carpet winners understand that.”
More than 280 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.
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 two primary schools, 46 elementary
schools, eight middle schools, eight high schools, one technical school
and the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind.
Red Carpet Coordinator Frank White said the program continues to
generate considerable interest, as evidenced by this year’s 285
applications.
“The high number of applicants we get each year 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.”
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.
"This year’s winning schools understand how important it is to create
a welcoming environment for parents and community members, and to
respond quickly and accurately to requests for information,” said
SC/NSPRA President Mary Anne Byrd. "One of the best things about the
Red Carpet program is the way it encourages schools to continually
evaluate the way they do business and the methods they use to reach out
to their customers.”
A live teleconference featuring the principals of three Red Carpet
Schools from 2006-07 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.
This year’s winners provide many examples of family and
community-friendly programs:
● At Webber Elementary School in Richland District 1, a
complimentary service is available for visitors and staff. Parents who
make Webber their regular morning coffee stop leave sipping, with cups
in hands. Webber’s reception area features pictures of every student
and all the faculty and staff.
● Lake View Elementary School in Dillon District 1 keeps its media
center open after school so families can work on school-related
projects, read or use the computers. The library also hosts “late
nights” so working parents can take advantage of the resources there.
● Mt. Pisgah Elementary School in Kershaw County has a special
program on Veterans Day to honor local veterans. After contacting vets
for pictures and information about their military service, students
designed a special slide show that was shown when the vets and their
families visited the school for the program. Afterward, the vets and
their families enjoyed a luncheon prepared and served by members of
local churches.
● At South Florence High School in Florence District 1, visitors
immediately encounter a receptionist who can answer questions, provide
visitor badges and give directions.
● Alice Drive Elementary School in Sumter District 17 makes every
effort to include parents in school-related decisions. For example,
after several parents mentioned that it was hard to find some school
rooms, the student council raised funds and purchased name plates for
all classroom doors.
● Sangaree Middle School in Berkeley County has a special area in
the office supplied with toys and books to entertain young children
while their parents are in conferences or enrolling new students. The
school works with churches in the area and invites local pastors to
visit the school and eat lunch with students from their congregations.
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.
2008 Red Carpet winners
District School
Abbeville County School District Diamond Hill
Elementary School
Aiken County School District A. L. Corbett Middle
School
Aiken County School District J. D. Lever Elementary
School
Aiken County School District Jefferson Elementary
School
Aiken County School District Silver Bluff High
School
Anderson School District 5 Hannah-Westside
Extension Campus
Anderson School District 5 Concord Elementary
School
Anderson School District 5 New Prospect Elementary
School
Anderson School District 5 Calhoun Academy of the
Arts
Beaufort County School District Hilton Head
Island IB Elementary School
Berkeley County School District Westview Primary
School
Berkeley County School District Sangaree Middle
School
Charleston County School District Drayton Hall
Elementary School
Cherokee County School District B.D. Lee
Elementary School
Dillon County School District 1 Lake View
Elementary School
Dorchester School District 2 Oakbrook Elementary
School
Dorchester School District 2 William M. Reeves, Jr.
Elementary School
Dorchester School District 2 Summerville Elementary
School
Florence School District 1 Savannah Grove
Elementary School
Florence School District 1 South Florence High
School
Greenville County School District Bushy Creek
Elementary School
Greenville County School District Fork Shoals
Elementary School
Greenville County School District Bell’s
Crossing Elementary School
Greenville County School District Fountain Inn
Elementary School
Greenville County School District Skyland
Elementary School
Greenville County School District Tigerville
Elementary School
Greenville County School District Mauldin Middle
School
Greenville County School District Woodmont High
School
Greenwood School District 50 Springfield Elementary
School
Hampton School District 1 Varnville Elementary
School
Horry County School District Homewood Elementary
School
Kershaw County School District Camden Elementary
School
Kershaw County School District Jackson Elementary
School
Kershaw County School District Mt. Pisgah Elementary
School
Kershaw County School District Lugoff Elgin High
School
Lancaster County School District A.R. Rucker
Elementary School
Lexington County School District 1 Lake Murray
Elementary School
Lexington County School District 1 Midway
Elementary School
Lexington County School District 1 White Knoll
Elementary School
Lexington County School District 1 Lexington Middle
School
Lexington County School District 1 Pleasant Hill
Middle School
Lexington County School District 1 White Knoll High
School
Lexington County School District 4 Swansea Primary
School
Lexington/Richland School District 5 Chapin Elementary School
Lexington/Richland School District 5 CrossRoads Middle School
Lexington/Richland School District 5 Irmo Elementary School
Oconee County School District Tamassee-Salem
Elementary School
Oconee County School District Northside Elementary
School
Oconee County School District Orchard Park Elementary
School
Oconee County School District Allen L. Code Elementary
School
Oconee County School District Seneca High School
Orangeburg School District 4 Lockett Elementary
School
Orangeburg School District 5 The Technology Center
Orangeburg School District 5 Bethune-Bowman
Middle/High School
Pickens County School District Forest Acres Elementary
School
Pickens County School District Pickens
Elementary School
Richland School District 1 A.C. Moore Elementary
School
Richland School District 1 Webber Elementary
School
Richland School District 2 Killian Elementary
School
Richland School District 2 Polo Road Elementary
School
Richland School District 2 Summit Parkway Middle
School
Spartanburg School District 1 Inman Intermediate
School
Spartanburg School District 5 Reidville Elementary
School
Sumter School District 17 Alice Drive Elementary
School
York County School District 4 Orchard Park Elementary
School
South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind
