FROM STAFF REPORTS

MONTGOMERY–On Monday, April 10, Attorney General Steven T. Marshall announced the winners of the 2016 Attorney General’s Alabama Safe Schools Initiative Awards of Excellence and Helena Middle School and Coosa Valley Academy were two Shelby County schools among the winners.

Schools from throughout Alabama submitted nominations for their best use of technological and other tools to deal with modern safety challenges. A panel of independent judges reviewed nominations to determine a winner from each of the eight state school board districts as well as private schools for each state region.

“I am pleased to carry forward an important tradition of the Attorney General’s Office, to recognize schools throughout our state for dedication and excellence in keeping students safe,” Marshall said. “Each day that parents leave their children at school, they are entrusting what they hold most precious into the care of schoolteachers, principals and other staff. With these awards, we honor those who have achieved particularly high standards and set examples that others may follow. We are grateful for their service and commitment to protecting the children of Alabama.”

Awards will be personally presented by Marshall during the next several weeks to the winning schools.

Below is a list of the 10 recipients of a 2016 Attorney General’s Safe Schools Initiative Award of Excellence for each State School Board district and each state region for private schools:

–District 1, Orange Beach Elementary, Orange Beach, Baldwin County

–District 2, Opelika Middle School, Opelika, Lee County
–District 3, Helena Middle School, Helena, Shelby County
–District 4, No submissions were received this year

–District 5, Pike County High School, Brundidge, Pike County
–District 6, Moody Middle School, Moody, St. Clair County
–District 7, Forest Hills Elementary School, Florence, Lauderdale County
–District 8, Bob Jones High School, Madison, Madison County
–Private School, Northern Region, Advent Episcopal School, Birmingham, Jefferson County

–Private School, Central Region, Coosa Valley Academy, Harpersville, Shelby County

–Private School, Southern Region, No submissions were received this year.