Make Mine Top Notch: What does it take to create a stand-out district? Presented by WebChannel NA/TLN WebChannel NA/TLN Please be sure to dial in for the audio portion of the webinar

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Make Mine Top Notch A Magna Awards webinar by the editors of American School Board Journal April 16, 2008

A Best Practices Program The Magna Awards are designed to recognize districts, like yours, that have developed solutions to some of the same problems you face. ASBJ, with Sodexho School Services as our partner, started the program in 1994 to recognize districts for their outstanding efforts.

Magna Facts More than 230 winning districts, including 18 this year, have been honored at a luncheon during NSBA’s annual conference and in a special supplement to the magazine. About 300 entries are received each year. Judging panel is independent of ASBJ and NSBA. Grand prize winners in each enrollment category receive $3,500 cash awards.

Judges’ Criteria The result of appropriate board leadership. Successful in view of the program’s primary objectives. Developed or actively supported by the school board. Important in promoting the district’s mission and advancing student learning. Capable of being replicated by other school boards with similar conditions and resources. The result of collaboration between the school board and others.

Poll: Has your district applied for a Magna Award?  Yes  No

Poll, Part II If your answer was no, what were the reasons?  Didn’t know about it  Too time consuming  Thought didn’t have a chance  Other

2008 Grand Prize Winners Under 5,000 enrollment: Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District in Santa Ynez, Calif., was recognized for EAST (Environmental and Spatial Technologies) program.

2008 Grand Prize Winners 5,000 to 20,000 enrollment: Clarke County School District in Athens, Ga., for the Classic City High School Performance Learning Center

2008 Grand Prize Winners 20,000 and above enrollment: Cherokee County School District in Canton, Ga., for creating three separate high schools to serve its diverse student population.

Poll: Which of these programs do you think you could use in your own district?  Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District  Clarke County School District  Cherokee County School District

2008 Winning Districts Under 5,000 enrollment Elk Mound Area School District in Elk Mound, Wis. Fenton High School District 100 in Bensonville, Ill.

2008 Winning Districts Under 5,000 enrollment North Montgomery Community School Corporation in Crawfordsville, Ind. Red River Parish Schools in Coushatta, La.

2008 Winning Districts Under 5,000 enrollment Salem County Vocational Technical Schools in Woodstown, N.J.

Poll: Which of these programs would you like to see replicated in your district?  Elk Mound Area School District  Fenton High School District 100  North Montgomery Community School Corporation  Red River Parish Schools  Salem County Vocational Technical School

2008 Winning Districts 5,000 to 20,000 enrollment Columbus County Schools, with Whiteville City Schools and Southeastern Community College in Whiteville, N.C.

2008 Winning Districts 5,000 to 20,000 enrollment Lake Stevens School District in Lake Stevens, Wash. Lee’s Summit R-7 School District in Lee’s Summit, Mo.

2008 Winning Districts 5,000 to 20,000 enrollment Monroe-Woodbury Central School District in Central Valley, N.Y. Roanoke County Public Schools in Roanoke, Va.

Poll: Which of these innovations have you considered for your district?  Early college high schools  Wellness initiatives  Student drug testing  Specialized programs for advanced math and science students.

2008 Winning Districts 20,000 and above enrollment Cumberland County Schools in Fayetteville, N.C. Evansville- Vanderburgh School Corporation in Evansville, Ind.

2008 Winning Districts 20,000 and above enrollment Hillsborough County Schools in Tampa, Fla. Pasco County Public Schools in Land O’ Lakes, Fla.

2008 Winning Districts 20,000 and above enrollment Prince William County Public Schools in Manassas, Va.

Poll: Which of these programs would you like to see replicated in your district?  Cumberland County Schools  Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation  Hillsborough County Public Schools  Pasco County Public Schools  Prince William County Public Schools

Want to Know More? To read more about the 2008 Magna Award winners, go to our website at You can also enter your district’s program at the same website. We are taking applications through October. All applications are only online.

How to reach us… Glenn Cook, Editor-in-Chief Kathleen Vail, Managing Editor Margaret Suslick, Magna Coordinator

WebChannel NA Archive Available for download at: A Windows Media recording of this program The PowerPoint of this presentation 28

For More Information For the National Affiliate Program: –Gene Broderson (703) or –Crissy O’Donnell (703) or 29