ORANGE BEACH, AL —Attorney General Strange on May 10 presented Orange Beach Elementary School with the 2015 Attorney General’s Safe School Initiative Award of Excellence for Alabama State Board of Education District 1.

Schools were selected as winners from seven Alabama State School Board of Education districts, as well as three private schools for each region of the state. There were no nominees from District 4.

“The Alabama Safe Schools Initiative Awards of Excellence are presented to schools that have performed exceptionally to provide a safe environment for students, with special emphasis on implementation of the Best Practices my office compiled based on previous recipients,” Strange said.  “I’m pleased that Orange Beach Elementary School was selected as one of the 10 winning schools in Alabama for 2015.

“In making this decision, the judges noted many things that distinguished Orange Beach Elementary: more than $100,000 in security upgrades in recent years, use of panic buttons for teachers and staff, and collaboration with the local SWAT team for training school personnel.”

This was the third straight year Orange Beach won the award for District. 1.

“It is a true honor to be the 2015 Attorney General Safe Schools Initiative award winner at Orange Beach Elementary School,” Principal Ryan Moss said. “This has been a wonderful team effort and collaboration among so many stakeholders, and we would like to thank each for their contribution. We at OBES strive to provide a safe and warm learning environment for our students and staff, our visitors and community, each and every day.”

The Attorney General’s Office is presenting awards for the 2015 Safe School Awards of Excellence winners to the 10 winning schools during April and May. 

Other winning schools throughout the state include Monroe County High School in Monroe County, Oak Park Middle School in Morgan County, Hewitt-Trussville High School in Jefferson County, Opelika High School in Lee County, Cedar Hill Elementary School in Limestone County, Coosa Valley Academy in Shelby County, Helena Middle School in Shelby County, Riverhill School in Lauderdale County and Lakeside School in Barbour County.