The Alabama State Board of Education issued a resolution honoring Demopolis High School for being named a No Child Left Behind/Blue Ribbon School.

The resolution was made at the state board’s meeting yesterday.

The resolution reads: “Whereas, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings named Demopolis High School in the Demopolis City School System as a 2008 No Child Left Behind/Blue Ribbon School; and

“Whereas, the No Child Left Behind/Blue Ribbon Schools program was announced in 2002 to honor schools that reflect the national education reform goals for high standards and accountability; and

“Whereas, the No Child Left Behind/Blue Ribbon Schools program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools that are either academically superior or that demonstrate gains in student achievement to high levels; and

“Whereas, approximately 300 schools were selected nationwide for the No Child Left Behind/Blue Ribbon Schools award, which is one of the most prestigious education awards in the country; and

“Whereas, No Child Left Behind/Blue Ribbon Schools will be honored at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.;

“Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Alabama State Board of Education does hereby commend the faculty, staff, students and parents of Demopolis High School on achieving the status of U.S. Department of Education No Child Left Behind/Blue Ribbon School in 2008.”

Ella B. Bell, the state board member representing District 5, read the resolution and presented it to DHS principal Dr. Isaac Espy. Joining Espy for the honor were Demopolis City Schools superintendent Dr. L. Wayne Vickers, Demopolis City Schools board member Laura Foster, former Demopolis City Schools superintendent Dr. Wesley Hill and state superintendent of education Dr. Joseph Morton.

“We are very proud of Demopolis High School achieving the Blue Ribbon Schools distinction,” Vickers said. “I’m very proud of the administration, faculty and staff. Really, this is an award that the entire city can share in. Everyone had a part in making that happen, and I appreciate the effort of closing the achievement gap that was being recognized today at Demopolis High School. That was a huge achievement, closing that achievement gap in those different subgroups, to gain recognition from the state department and national recognition from the U.S. Department of Education.”

“We are very, very proud of this recognition,” Espy said. “We feel like our faculty and our students rose to the occasion, and I feel like it’s a well-deserved honor for our school.”