Ascension Public Schools received the National School Public Relations Associations Gold Medallion Award at the associations national conference in San Antonio, Texas, on July 12.

The award is the associations highest honor and was given to Ascension for its successful 2016 bond election communications campaign, Growing at the Pace of Excellence. Eleven school districts across the country received awards for superior educational public relations programs, with Ascension as Louisianas sole recipient.

"This particular award appropriately affirms the hard work and effort of all those involved in effective communication so that our public would properly understand and agree with our priority for capital improvement projects that includes building new schools," Ascension Public Schools Superintendent David Alexander said.

Eighty percent of parish residents voted April 9, 2016, in favor of a 15.08 millage to generate $120 million in bonds to fund four new schools and facility improvements, a news release said. The communications plan executed by the school district along with Taylor Media Services was instrumental in the successful vote, reaching the public through community meetings, presentations, a video, mailers, strategic signage, social media and grassroots outreach.

"This campaign was successful because we were all in, from the superintendent, board members and directors to principals, teachers and support staff. Our community trusts that we are good stewards of their financial investments, and they showed that support at the polls," Assistant Superintendent A. Denise Graves said.

Taylor Media Services has worked with the district since 2003, securing successful passage in multiple elections. Growing at the Pace of Excellence was the first election marketing campaign for Ascension Public Schools Public Information Officer Jackie Tisdell, who has been with the district since 2015.

"Although tremendously humbled by this recognition, we know our work is far from over. We will focus our communication efforts on the construction progress of new schools and renovations," Tisdell said.

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Ascension Public Schools wins national award for bond election communications campaign - The Advocate