Southern recognized for being a military-friendly school

Southern recognized for being a military-friendly school

LOGAN, Ohio — Nearly 150 school board members, administrators, staff, students and guests from around southeastern Ohio gathered at Logan High School Sept. 26 for the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) Southeast Region Fall Conference. During the event, Souther Local was recognized for work with military families.

Southern Local received the Purple Star Award for being a military-friendly public school. The award recognizes those schools that show a major commitment to students and families connected to our nation’s military. 
A school is honored with the Purple Star Award if it completes certain requirements. The Purple Star Advisory Board, formed by the Ohio departments of Education, Higher Education, Veterans Services and the Adjutant General, helps decide a school’s eligibility for the award. Both Southern Elementary and Southern High School were recognized.

Additionally, the conference featured updates from OSBA officers and staff and a number of awards and recognitions. The region recognized new school board members, superintendents and treasurers; exceptional board members; and exemplary students, student programs, administrators, faculty, business leaders and a volunteer and classified staff member.

Special awards included the Southeast Region Advocate of Education Hall of Fame Award, which went to Dr. Barbara A. Hansen for her dedication to K-12 and postsecondary education and community service agencies in southeast Ohio. The Southeast Region Outstanding School Board Member Award was presented to Ken Blood, a veteran board member in the East Muskingum Local School District in Muskingum County. Ruth Ware, a curriculum consultant at Muskingum Valley Educational Service Center, received the region’s President’s Award, which honors individuals who have shown an unwavering commitment to public education and the children in southeast Ohio.

Eighteen counties comprise the OSBA Southeast Region: Athens, Belmont, Coshocton, Gallia, Guernsey, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Morgan, Muskingum, Monroe, Noble, Perry, Pike, Scioto, Vinton and Washington. The other OSBA regions are Central, Northeast, Northwest and Southwest.

Founded in 1955, the Ohio School Boards Association leads the way to educational excellence by serving Ohio’s public school board members and the diverse districts they represent through superior service, unwavering advocacy and creative solutions.