FLORENCE-Florence High School has been selected as both a 2019 CLAS Banner School and a 2019 CLAS School of Distinction from State School Board District 7. The awards were announced on Monday, May 4, 2020, during a virtual awards ceremony hosted by the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools.
CLAS recognized thirty Schools of Distinction across the eight State School Board Districts during Monday’s ceremony. The CLAS Banner School program was created in 2001 to recognize schools in Alabama that showcase outstanding programs and service to students. Each school was nominated for this award by their superintendent with 189 school programs nominated statewide.
Florence High School’s “Lunch with the Keys” program was nominated by Florence City Schools Superintendent Dr. Jimmy 
Shaw. Lunch with the Keys takes place in a non-traditional atmosphere, outside of the classroom. Organizers Pete and Sharlene Key describe the school sponsored program as an engaging, lively conversation around the dinner table.
“Why is it that when a student fails algebra or an academic subject, we get them a tutor? Also, if a student needs help in athletics, we get a trainer,” stated Pete Key. “But when a student misbehaves, we send them to ISS or Alternative School. What programs do we have in place to help them modify the behavior that landed them in Alternative School in the first place?”
And that is how Lunch with the Keys was birthed. For the past five years, the Keys have assisted Florence High School students in character building, conflict resolution, mentoring, communication and leadership development.
Florence City Schools is humbled to receive this recognition from the Council of Leaders in Alabama Schools. It is the goal of FCS to make sure the needs of all of our students are met not only in the classroom, but also in their young lives.
Media Release/Carter Watkins/Communications Coordinator/Florence City Schools
