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3 schools in Valley are Blue Ribbon
BOARDMAN
The U.S. Department of Education has designated three Mahoning Valley schools as Blue Ribbon Schools.
South Range High School, West Boulevard Elementary in Boardman and Maplewood Elementary in North Bloomfield were honored.
They are among 18 Ohio schools and 300 schools nationwide to receive the award.
The Blue Ribbon Award is meant to honor elementary, middle and high schools that have dedicated time and energy toward significantly closing the achievement gap or have students who continually perform on very high levels, according to a news release from U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s office.
“I’m extremely proud of our students and staff, and really the whole community,” said South Range Superintendent Dennis Dunham.
South Range Elementary eceived the award in 2008, but this is the first time for the high school, he said.
High school principal Steve Rohan echoed Dunham’s sentiment of collaboration among teachers, staff, students and parents.
“This is nothing more than the result of all of that and all the pieces working together, and that’s why we were nominated and that’s why we were fortunate enough to get the award,” Rohan said.
Dunham said the district will not rest on this honor, though.
“The bottom line is the honor is great, but we continue to work hard every day,” he said.
Al Cervello, principal of West Boulevard Elementary, said the school is the first in Boardman to receive the Blue Ribbon award. It’s the latest in a string of awards for the school, which had the highest performance index of any K-4 school in Ohio, based on the state’s academic report cards, he said.
Cervello said part of the school’s success is its focus on providing math and language-arts tutors for all children, not just those who are behind.
“We also always stress and thank the parents for their support,” he said. “It’s kind of clich , but you have to work together as a team for the benefit of the children and we do that.”
The principal and one teacher from each Blue Ribbon school will be invited to Washington, D.C., for the Nov. 14-15 awards ceremony.
While there, representatives of each school will receive a plaque and a flag to signify the school’s designation.