The Center for Digital Education, the National School Boards Association and "Converge Online" magazine recently announced that the Newton County Board of Education is one of the top 10 digitally?advanced school boards in the United States.

The purpose of the survey is to showcase exemplary school boards and districts' use of technology to govern the district, communicate with students, parents and the community and to improve district operations.

"The recognition of the Board by the Center for Digital Education is further indication of the progress being made in the Newton County Schools," said Dr. Steve Whatley, Superintendent of Newton County Schools. "Recently the system's redesigned website also earned a national ‘Award of Excellence'. The technological progress goes well beyond that used by the Board in the transaction of its business. At the heart is the use of technology by our students and instructional staff for learning and teaching. Technology greatly assists us in communication with our parents and the public, whether through e-mail or Web site. We are proud of this recognition."

All U.S. public school boards/districts were invited to participate in the survey. Schools were placed in three categories based on size of enrollment. Winners reflected those school districts with the fullest implementation of technology standards in the evolution of digital education. Newton County School System placed tenth in the nation for large school systems with more than 15,000 students.

Marina Leight, vice president of the Center for Digital Education, said, "The survey responses show that school districts across the nation are doing an outstanding job of using technology to increase communication with their students, parents and the community. In addition to their Web sites, they are also using newer technologies such as wireless notifications, blogs and grade portals. We applaud their progress and successes!"

School boards must move with the times, as technology grows and changes," said Anne L. Bryant, executive director for the National School Boards Association. "Especially in these difficult economic times, it is essential for school districts to come up with creative and innovative ways to use technology. NSBA salutes this year's top Digital School Boards for taking the lead and setting the bar for school districts around the country."

For more information, contact the Newton County School System Department of Public Relations at 770?784?2908.