House Concurrent Resolution 102

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE HAYES COOPER CENTER OF THE CLEVELAND SCHOOL DISTRICT IN BOLIVAR COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, FOR ITS DESIGNATIONS AS A 2006 NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND-BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL AND AS AN INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE ORGANIZATION (IBO) SCHOOL.

WHEREAS, the Hayes Cooper Center of the Cleveland School District in Bolivar County, Mississippi, is not only the apple of the Cleveland School District's eye, it is also the apple of the nation's eye; and

WHEREAS, the Hayes Cooper Center has been recognized by two of the nation's finest academic institutions, the United States Department of Education and the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO); and

WHEREAS, among the many honors awarded to the school, it was designated by the United States Department of Education as a 2006 No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon School; and

WHEREAS, a recipient school of a No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon School designation is a public or private K-12 school that is either academically superior in its state or demonstrates dramatic gains in student achievement; and

WHEREAS, President George W. Bush and the federal Secretary of Education deems this national honor as a reflection of the goals of our nation's new education reforms for high standards and accountability; and

WHEREAS, the prestigious International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) has also honored the Hayes Cooper Center by designating it as an IBO school; and

WHEREAS, the IBO is a recognized leader in the field of international education which works with 1,962 schools in 124 countries to encourage students to be active learners and well-rounded individuals who are engaged as world citizens; and

WHEREAS, because of the IBO's standards for excellence, it is a very rare occasion when a school such as the Hayes Cooper Center is designated as an IBO school; and

WHEREAS, the Hayes Cooper Center opened in the fall of 1991 with the help of a Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) grant and housed only one section of grade levels, kindergarten through sixth grade; and

WHEREAS, as a result of the success demonstrated by the Hayes Cooper Center, the district applied for and received a second MSAP grant enabling the elementary program to be doubled in size and continue the program into the junior high level; and

WHEREAS, in 2004, the district applied for, and received a third MSAP grant which enabled the Hayes Cooper Center to implement the IBO's Primary Years Programme; and

WHEREAS, numerous other state and national awards have been bestowed upon the Hayes Cooper Center for its excellent academic program, some examples include the 1992 South Eastern Regional Vision for Education's Program of Excellence, the 1993 State Department of Education's "Successful Practices in Mathematics and Science," the 1995 Mississippi Association of Educator's Award of Excellence, the 2002 Mississippi Governor's Educational Achievement Award for K-12, the 2004-2005 Mississippi Department of Education Level 5 AYP Achievement Award, the 2005-2006 Mississippi Department of Education Level 5 AYP Achievement Award; and

WHEREAS, the mission of the Hayes Cooper Center has always been to "create and maintain a failure-free environment where students of different social, economic, racial and ethnic backgrounds, regardless of their previous educational history and experience, will be given both the instruction and the inspiration necessary to be successful"; and

WHEREAS, based on the state, national and international recognition given to the school, the Hayes Cooper Center succeeded in proving that the socio-economic status of a child has nothing to do with their ability to excel academically; and

WHEREAS, credit for the success of the Hayes Cooper Center is owed to the team efforts of parents, faculty members, the principal, Ms. Beverly Hardy, and the PYP Coordinator, Dr. Debbie Fioranelli; and

WHEREAS, this dedicated team has been supported in its efforts by the Board of Trustees for the Cleveland School District: Dr. Wayne Blansett, Mr. George Evans, Dr. Harvey M. Jackson, Mr. Maurice Lucas and Mr. Lindsey C. Meador and the Cleveland Superintendent, Dr. Montrell Greene; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend excellence in schools that strive to create greatness in its students:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the Hayes Cooper Center of the Cleveland School District in Bolivar County, Mississippi, for its designations as a 2006 No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon School and an International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) School.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the Hayes Cooper Center, members of the Board of Trustees for the Cleveland School District, Dr. Montrell Greene and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.