NewsStory

CONTACT: Lori Matway
(727) 893-7174

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAYOR PRESENTS 4th ANNUAL TOP APPLE AWARDS AUGUST 13

St. Petersburg, Fla. (August 11, 2008) – On Wednesday, August 13, Mayor Rick Baker will honor 19 St. Petersburg schools, and their principals and assistant principals, that earned an "A" grade from the state of Florida or improved their rating from the previous year. This year's Mayor's Top Apple Awards will provide successful school principals with $72,000 in cash bonuses – raised by the Mayor from private funds, at a time when the county's public schools face tough budget cuts. Also as part of this year's ceremonies, corporate partners who have worked with schools as part of the Mayor's Mentors & More Initiative will also be recognized.

The presentation will be held in City Council Chamber, City Hall, 175 Fifth St. N. at 5 p.m. In addition to Mayor Rick Baker, county school officials and area elected state congressional leaders are expected to attend.

This year, 64 percent of all St. Petersburg schools are graded by FCAT scores as "A" or "B" schools, up from 26 percent in 2001 when the Mayor created the Mayor's Mentors & More program – a 250 percent increase. Fourteen schools are "A" schools, up from just one in 2001. Clearview Elementary School improved from a "C" to an "A" rating – one of only 94 schools in a statewide system of 1,600 schools to see such a major improvement.