5 Franklin schools among those honored

Gov. Tim Kaine on Tuesday recognized 153 Virginia public schools, including five in Franklin County, for earning the Governor's Award for Educational Excellence.

Fifteen schools in the Roanoke Valley and adjacent counties and New River Valley earned the recognition, which is the highest honor of an incentive program developed by the state board of education in 2007 to promote Kaine's K-12 education initiatives.

To qualify, schools must meet all state and federal benchmarks for at least two consecutive years. Additional excellence goals must be met in elementary reading, enrollment in Algebra I by eighth grade, enrollment in college-level course work, high school graduation, attainment of advanced diplomas or career and industry certifications, and participation in the Virginia Preschool Initiative.

"My administration has made it a priority to move beyond merely meeting standards to truly encouraging excellent performance in our schools," Kaine said.

Recipients from Franklin County are: Boones Mill, Burnt Chimney, Callaway, Glade Hill and Lee M. Waid elementary schools.

Charles Lackey the division's superintendent, said those schools have received numerous awards, and most previously have earned the governor's excellence award.

"When you get to a sustained excellence situation, you know you're getting it right," Lackey said.

He attributed the schools' successes to a mixture of great students, parental support, dedicated teachers, strong leadership and a supportive central office staff.

Forest and Otter River Elementary schools in Bedford County also received the award.

-- Courtney Cutright