By Yael Barnir, Spokesperson for the Megiddo Regional Council

In these days when our normal routines have been disrupted by the security situation in southern Israel (and today in the north as well) happy news was received by the educational institutions of the Megiddo Regional Council.

While touring southern Israel, the Minister of Education, Ms. Yuli Tamir, personally notified the head of the regional council, Mr. Hanan Erez, about his council being awarded the Education Prize for 2008.

The council's distinctive formal and informal education system has impressed many: It spearheads education that is value-based and upholds the responsible spirit of the local biosphere — nurturing the reciprocal relationship between people and their physical and human environments.  The council's educational philosophy is grounded in ecological awareness and preservation.

Stephen Cohen, St. Louis Federation’s Assistant Executive Vice President, has sent his congratualtions to the Mayor of Megiddo Regional Council, Hanan Erez, and the Head of the Education Department, Avraham Azulai, on behalf of Yokneam-Megiddo's sister St. Louis Jewish community.

The Megiddo Regional Council education system was a candidate for the Education Prize, along with other local councils, and ultimately was chosen as winner of the 2008 prize.