Jefferson County Schools representatives accept the George E. Vickers Major Industry Award during the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce’s 52nd annual Awards Banquet. (Ogden Newspapers photo by Megan Fisher)

Jefferson County Schools received a high honor for its growth Wednesday night at the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce’s 52nd annual Awards Banquet.

The George E. Vickers Major Industry Award was first awarded in 1960, and it is presented each year to a community industry that has “shown leadership in promoting the expansion and prosperity of the area.”

Chamber of Commerce President Paul Espinosa presented the award to Jefferson County Superintendent Susan Wall.

“Since 2005, Jefferson County Schools has spent over $91 million building new schools or currently working on school improvements,” Espinosa said. “With the assistance of the West Virginia School Building Authority and local support, Jefferson County Schools (has) been able to open a second high school.”

Washington High and Driswood Elementary schools were both recently opened, and Blue Ridge Primary School is expected to be completed by the 2011-2012 academic year.

In the last five years, Jefferson High and South Jefferson Elementary Middle schools also have seen renovations, and officials plan to add classrooms to Harpers Ferry Middle School.

At South Jefferson, 61 portable classrooms will close, allowing more than 2,000 students to enter a safer and more modern facility. With the progress of Blue Ridge Primary and Harpers Ferry Middle, Jefferson County Schools will close an additional 18 portables.

Wall thanked the Chamber of Commerce for honoring the school system.

“It’s an honor to receive this award,” she said. “The success of the school system is because of the community that we live in and the people that work hard for the system – the employees as well as the citizens. We couldn’t do it without the whole community.”