Russellville BOE members honored

By Staff
MONTGOMERY – Good news just keeps getting better for the Russellville School Board.
Russellville is one of nine local school boards which will receive a prestigious honor at the Alabama Association of School Boards District 8 meeting tomorrow at the Holiday Inn in Decatur.
The 6 p.m. meeting will include dinner at 6:30 p.m., followed by the 45-minute program.
School boards in Russellville, Decatur and Muscle Shoals and in Colbert, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Morgan and Winston counties will receive the second annual AASB President's Award for dedication to improving their boardmanship skills.
The awards will be given this year to 43 school boards across the state during AASB district meetings Sept. 17-Oct. 11 in nine geographical regions. The award is presented annually at fall district meetings to school boards that have had at least 60 percent of their members attend three or more AASB School Board Member Academy courses in the 2006-07 academy year that ended June 30.
"We're proud of this year's winners of the AASB President's Award," said AASB President Jim Methvin. "They take seriously their roles as education leaders, community representatives and advocates of student achievement. They strive to strengthen their leadership and boardmanship skills through meaningful training and educational opportunities."
This fall's district training sessions are built around the theme "School Construction: Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck." Alabama's recently approved $1 billion bond issue to improve school facilities is not only historic but is a much-needed boost for systems bursting at the seams and others making due with deteriorating buildings. It also heightens the importance of equipping school boards and superintendents with the information they need to make the most efficient and effective use of the bond money. AASB is partnering with the state Building Commission to give practical advice to education leaders facing tough facilities construction, renovation and repair decisions in a market soon to be hit with increased demand.
Dr. Charles Elliott of Decatur serves as director of District 8, which includes school boards in Athens, Cullman, Decatur, Florence, Haleyville, Hartselle, Muscle Shoals, Russellville, Sheffield and Tuscumbia and in Colbert, Cullman, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Morgan and Winston counties.