The two 2013 Business Partners of the Year for St. Lucie Public Schools were recognized at the May 28, 2013, St. Lucie County School Board meeting. The 26th Annual Commissioner’s Business Partner recognition reception, sponsored by the Florida Department of Education, will be held June 13, 2013, in Tampa where the state winner will be named. School districts throughout the state may nominate one, two or three businesses, depending on student population, for the state honor. St. Lucie Public Schools selected the school district’s Facilities and Maintenance Department (with FLDOE approval) for its annual summer student internship and scholarship program, which since 2007 has awarded $30,000 to St. Lucie students. Pictured with the recognition plaque is department bookkeeper Cindy Hill, who has been the driving force behind the project, along with the late Regina Chesser. With Ms. Hill, from left, are School Board chairman Debbie Hawley, Hill, Delores Austell from the Career and Technical Education department, which nominated the internship program, and Superintendent Michael Lannon. The other Business Partner of the Year is Martin Health Systems – St. Lucie West and site manager Debbie Markey. This company provides internships for medical academy students from St. Lucie West Centennial. Teachers Elizabeth Durkee and Mary Higgins nominated Martin Health Systems for their unwavering commitment to providing the requisite clinical experiences for medical academy students to earn certification.
Business partners of the year honored at school board meeting
