Brevard Public Schools’ (BPS) Office of District Communications has won two prestigious awards for excellence in educational public relations for its Classrooms in Crisis community engagement campaign. BPS was awarded the Gold Medallion Award from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA), one of only seven winners nationwide for 2010. BPS also received the Sunshine Medallion Award from the Sunshine State Public Relations Association (SUNSPRA).
“Classrooms in Crisis began as an initiative to inform the community about the future of education in Brevard County,” said District Communications Director, Christine A. Davis. “The Classrooms in Crisis coalition members did an outstanding job reaching the public.”
The coalition was comprised of representatives from district parents and community members; BPS administration, including the superintendent; and BPS employee unions/organizations, the Brevard Federation of Teachers (BFT), the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (Local 1010), and the Brevard Association of School Administrators (BASA).
The Classrooms in Crisis coalition was formed to assist in a comprehensive communications plan for BPS with the purpose of engaging parents, staff and community in the fight for adequate legislative funding for public education. The initial result of the Classrooms in Crisis initiative led to over 10,000 parents, students, and community members attending a Town Hall Education meeting in February, 2009, where they communicated with legislators. The final outcome of the Classrooms in Crisis initiative came in May, 2009, when the Brevard County School Board approved by a 5 to 0 vote, the millage levy of an additional 0.25 mills to meet critical needs within the district’s operating fund, which was allowable in Florida Statute 1011.71, authorizing School Boards, by super majority vote (4 of 5) to levy an additional 0.25 mill. Brevard County School Board was the first district in Florida to adopt this levy. These additional funds resulted in a budget increase of $8.7 million which allowed the district to balance its budget, keeping key student programs operating.
The NSPRA Gold Medallion Award competition is the only national competition that specifically recognizes outstanding, planned, total educational public relations programs. The BPS Department of Communications will receive the Gold Medallion Award at NSPRA’s National Seminar, July 11-14, 2010.
SUNSPRA is an organization for public relations professionals in Florida with ties to NSPRA. The Sunshine Medallion Award will be presented during the Florida Association of School Administrators Summer Conference, July 25-28, 2010.