Five Richland One Schools Receive Red Carpet Designation

Five Richland One schools were among 54 statewide recognized for being family-friendly and having excellent customer service as part of the Red Carpet initiative, sponsored by the State Department of Education.

2000-05 Red Carpet schools are Alcorn Middle, Dreher High, Heyward Career and Technology Center, Meadowfield Elementary School and Webber Elementary School. They join 10 other district schools previously designated as Red Carpet Schools.

"These schools understand the importance of a positive climate," State Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbau said." They ensure every day that visitors are made to feel like they’re a part of the school family."

Winning schools receive a red carpet with the state seal to display in their lobbies, and they maintain their recognition status for a three-year period. Funds for the actual red carpet are provided as part of a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department’s Truancy Center.

The Red Carpet 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 also has been featured in NSPRA’S monthly newsletter as well as the monthly newsletter of the National Association of Elementary Principals Association.

Last fall, more than 275 schools applied for the award. Applicants prepared written applications that detailed 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 school’s communication plans.

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

Outside

Front entrance/lobby

Office

Telephone