FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
May 8, 2019
Media inquiries only, contact:
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Steve Marshall
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 1
Alabama Attorney General
Attorney General Steve Marshall Presents Richland Elementary
With 2018 Safe Schools Initiative Award of Excellence
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Steve Marshall today presented Richland Elementary
School with an Attorney General’s Safe Schools Initiative Award of Excellence for State Board of
Education District 2. Schools were selected as winners for 2018 from each of the eight state
school board districts as well as private schools for each* state region.
“In these times, we are all intensely aware of the serious responsibility our schools carry for the
safekeeping of our children,” said Attorney General Marshall. “The Alabama Safe Schools
Awards of Excellence is an important tradition of the Attorney General’s Office, to recognize
schools throughout our state for dedication and excellence in keeping students safe. With these
awards, we honor those who have achieved particularly high standards and set examples that
others may follow. We are grateful for their service and commitment to protecting the children
of Alabama.”
In presenting the award today Attorney General Marshall said, “The Attorney General’s Office
is proud that Richland Elementary School was selected as one of the 10 winning schools in
Alabama for 2018. In making this decision, judges cited many things that distinguished
Richland Elementary School: strong collaboration with local emergency officials and law
enforcement, excellent interaction between school resource officers and students, and active
participation in safe schools online training.”
Principal Jeffery J. Johnson said, “School safety is an area of priority, not only for our school, but
our school system as a whole. It has been a goal of our superintendent, Dr. Karen Delano, to
increase awareness of our school safety plans to ensure that our students are safe. It is such an
honor being recognized as a recipient of the Alabama Safe Schools Initiative Award of
Excellence, and I am encouraged that we are making, and will continue to make, the correct
choices in keeping our students safe.”
Attorney General Marshall is presenting awards for the 2018 Safe Schools Initiative Award of
Excellence winners to the 10 winning schools this spring. Other winning schools throughout
the state include Orange Beach Elementary School in Baldwin County, Morris P-8 School in
Madison County, Nichols-Lawson Middle School in Talladega County, Prattville Junior High
School in Autauga County, Eastwood Middle School in Tuscaloosa County, Decatur High
School in Morgan County, Hewitt-Trussville Middle School in Jefferson County, Saint James
School in Montgomery County and the Lakeside School in Barbour County.
*No submissions were received this year for a private school in the Northern region of Alabama.
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501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
