Making the Grade in Fries

The Grayson County School System is making every effort possible to achieve accreditation division-wide, an undertaking that should earn them some “extra credit” on their school report card.

The school system has only one school remaining — Fries Middle — to achieve that goal.

With less than 40 schools throughout Virginia fully accredited for the 2009-10 school year, the school administrators know the importance of achieving this goal, and they have responded.

The school system has implemented numerous initiatives and is working closely with the faculty and state Department of Education to do everything possible to meet the state benchmarks.

FMS Principal Elizabeth Brown appears to be exactly what the school system needs — a leader excited and eager to meet or exceed the accreditation standards.

Brown thanked the school board for all the support and told them the initiatives were "going to pay off."

It's refreshing to see a leader of a school who understands that the task ahead is not easy by any standards, but is still willing to go the extra mile to make it happen anyway.

In order to achieve accreditation for the 2009-10 school year, FMS must increase its passing rates by 15 percent in mathematics and 2 percent in grades 6, 7 and 8 English.

Students, parents, faculty and administrators are getting excited about education in the Fries community, and the results are likely to be evident when the SOL tests are administered next spring.

Good luck to the Grayson School System and all those working toward full accreditation.