State rolls out Red Carpet to honor 6 local schools

By Diette Courrégé

The Post and Courier

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Sangaree Middle School keeps a stash of toys and books in its front office to keep children busy while their parents take care of school business. It's one of the many ways the Berkeley County school tries to create a family-friendly environment, and those efforts were recognized Monday when the school received a Red Carpet award from the state Department of Education.

Sangaree Middle was one of six Lowcountry schools and 66 schools statewide to be given a Red Carpet award for providing excellent customer service. Other local schools include Westview Primary in Berkeley County, Drayton Hall Elementary in Charleston County, and three in Dorchester District 2: Oakbrook Elementary, William M. Reeves Jr. Elementary and Summerville Elementary.

More than 280 schools submitted applications that described their family-friendly environments and communication plans. Unidentified judges called and visited applicant schools to evaluate factors such as the exterior and interior appearance of the campus, treatment of visitors and information available for families and visitors.

Winning schools get red carpets with the state seal to display in their lobbies. They are considered Red Carpet schools for three years.

Sangaree Middle Principal Jude Gehlmann got a call last week from the county's superintendent that they needed to meet, and Gehlmann thought it would be to discuss a problem. But when he saw the balloons and roses in the front office Monday, he had a feeling the meeting might be about the Red Carpet award, he said.

He credited the school's staff for pulling together its application and working hard to get parents involved. Parents are given a meal during PTA meetings, and teachers show them examples of what's happening in their children's classrooms, he said. "We try our best to get parents in as much as possible."

Berkeley County Schools Superintendent Chester Floyd (left) presents Sangaree Middle School Principal Jude Gehlmann with a South Carolina Red Carpet School 2008 banner Monday.

The school also has worked with area churches by inviting pastors to visit and eat lunch with students from their congregations.

In suburban Dorchester District 2, Reeves Elementary managed to earn recognition as a Red Carpet school during its first year of operation. Principal Laura Blanchard said she talked to her staff about whether they should apply for the award and they agreed to try for it. The staff focus on making sure the 865-student school is warm, family-friendly and student-centered, she said. "It's a celebration for us, and it speaks volumes about the staff and what they've accomplished this year," Blanchard said. "It's just tremendous."

When new students enroll in the school, administrators try to personally meet and greet them as well as give them tests to ensure they are placed in classes where they will receive the best and most appropriate instruction, Blanchard said. Tours are given by administrators, and student artwork is prominently displayed in the school, she said. She also credited the school's Improvement Council, PTA and business partners for helping create a culture and environment that culminated in the Red Carpet award.