HARPERSVILLE – Coosa Valley Academy on Wednesday, April 18, was presented with the Attorney General’s Safe School Initiative Award of Excellence for the third consecutive year.

Attorney General Steve Marshall presented the award during a ceremony in the school gymnasium.

Chosen as the private school in Central Alabama to be honored, CVA was one of 10 winners statewide of the award this year.

Winners were selected from seven Alabama State School Board of Education districts as well as private schools in three regions of the state.

“In these times, we are all intensely aware of the serious responsibility our schools carry for the safekeeping of our children,” Marshall said. “Recent events have been heartbreaking reminders that we must remain vigilant and committed to provide the best protections possible in Alabama’s schools.

“Each day that parents leave their children at school, they are entrusting what they hold most precious into the care of schoolteachers, principals, school resource officers and other staff. With these awards, we honor those who have achieved particularly high standards and set examples that others may follow. In making this decision, judges noted many things that distinguished Coosa Valley Academy: the school’s emergency ‘Go Bags,’ a large number of security cameras and excellent communication with law enforcement and parents about how to get information if an emergency arises.”

Coosa Valley senior Tayler Forstmann, who is the school’s SGA president and senior class chaplain, introduced Marshall and other dignitaries, and Mr. CVA Clayton Mims presented a school baseball hat to Marshall.

CVA Headmaster Pam Lovelady thanked everyone who had a part in the school’s efforts, including Monica Thompson, who is the school bookkeeper and processes data related to safety measures.

“Coosa Valley Academy strives each day to commit to provide the utmost protection for our most valuable assets which are our children,” Lovelady said. “Our community organizations continue to be instrumental in the implementations of Coosa Valley Academy’s School Safety Program, which include Harpersville Police Chief Jimmy Macon, Harpersville Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Mayor Don Greene, Shelby County Emergency Management Agency, Coosa Valley Academy Board of Directors, staff and students.

“This award is an honor for our school, students, parents and community. Together we continue to strive for excellence in assuring a safe educational environment. This process is ongoing as we continue to meet the safety demands of our school.”