The Coweta County Board of Education has received a “Quality Board” designation by the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA). The announcement of the designation was made recently by Superintendent Steve Barker.

“This is the highest ranking available for boards of education this year,” Barker told board members. “It means you hold to best practices and strive for improvement in an efficient, ethical cooperative manner.”

School boards given the Quality Board designation by GSBA meet all requirements of state board of education training accreditation and have adopted and begun implementing a system strategic plan, among other criteria. Coweta’s school board has typically held the highest professional distinctions offered by GSBA, said school system spokesman Dean Jackson.

Barker also took the occasion to thank board members for their dedication to education in Coweta County.

“I appreciate your approach, as a board, to your business,” he said. “You have accomplished an enormous amount in the last two years.”

Noting the impact of the economy on school systems throughout the state and nation in recent years, Barker cited several Coweta school board actions or positions for which he commended board members. Barker thanked board members for their commitment to those positions and to the members’ “laser-like focus on our core business” of student achievement.

“With enormous responsibility and increasing demands of your time, you have always focused on what is best for students,” said Barker. “You have constantly asked me the question, ‘What will the impact of this decision be on instruction?’ Unlike most school boards, you have done it without any pay.”

Barker noted that the Coweta school system still faces many challenges, including ongoing budgetary concerns, the state’s implementation of the new CCRPI accountability system and other challenges ranging from growth to curriculum changes.

“I know each of you will continue the tradition of placing student needs at the front of each decision,” said Barker.