Although the reasons were different, each of the three featured speakers at the November 21st 'State of the Schools' event projected optimism and excitement about their school systems moving forward.
Dr. Tim Guinn, Russellville City Schools Superintendent of Education, Greg Hamilton, Franklin County Schools Superintendent of Education and Dr. Jeff Goodwin, Northwest Shoals Community College President, shared with an audience in the Russellville High School Auditorium updates on what's happening with their systems.
The annual 'State of the Schools' is hosted by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce. This year's event included, for the first time, recognition of Outstanding Employees of the Year at each of the combined 15 Franklin County and Russellville City Schools and one employee at each central office.
Guinn said he is pleased with the number of Advanced Placement exams taken by Russellville High School students, 544 this year compared to 492 last year. With a pass rate of 38% receiving a qualifying score of 3-plus, that's another improvement from 2023.
Financially, Russellville City Schools is in solid condition, Guinn said, with a 4.5 month operating balance, is more than four times the one-month balance required by the State of Alabama.
“We're fortunate to have such a cooperating, supportive city government and that, along with ESSER funds we've received, have allowed us to amass a 4.5 month reserve,” Guinn said.
Two schools, Russellville Middle School and West Elementary School, were Blue Ribbon Lighthouse Schools of Excellence this year.
Guinn gave an update of the Career Technical Education Center renovation, which will include the addition of four new classrooms and a renovated shop area.
18 RHS students received their Food & Beverage credentials through Northwest Shoals Community College's Culinary Center this fall.
Guinn discussed the new Golden Tigers Core Values Challenge, a community initiative that recognizes RHS alumni who demonstrate the core values of respect, integrity, kindness, responsibility, self-control, positive attitude, determination and honesty.
Russellville Fire Department Chief Joe Mansell was the first recipient of the initiative.
Franklin County Schools' 2024 enrollment of 3,497 students is 'consistent' with recent years and is an increase of 24 students from last year, Hamilton said.
He discussed the importance of Alabama Amendment One having been approved in the November 5, 2024, election. Its approval will allow the Franklin County Board of Education to sell or lease approximately 329 acres of Section 16 land located at the Alabama 13-Interstate 22 intersection, a location with massive development potential.
“The 329 acres are located in Walker and Fayette Counties and it became a game changer for us when they ran Interstate 22 right through our land,” Hamilton said. “We're blessed beyond measure over this.”
Proceeds from the sale of this property have the potential to provide a major revenue stream for Franklin County Schools for decades to come, Hamilton said.
Two schools, Tharptown Elementary and Vina High School, were among the 25 most improved schools in Alabama and Tharptown High School won the national championship in the 2024 Team Rocketry Challenge. A Red Bay High School student scored an eye-popping 34 on the ACT and a Phil Campbell High School student was the Student Achievement Regional Recipient of the Bryant-Jordan Achievement Award for 3A Region 7.
Franklin County Schools' Diane Baker was named the Alabama School Nurse Association's School Nurse Administrator of the Year in 2024. And Franklin County's Class of 2024 received $1,727,000 in scholarship awards.
Two Franklin County schools principals gave updates on their schools, including East Franklin Junior High's Leann Trapp and Tharptown Elementary's Molly King.
When it was his turn, Goodwin went right to a subject near and dear to Franklin County residents—the college’s $30 million renovation of the Phil Campbell campus.
Construction of the ‘Patriot Plaza’ is expected to be completed by August 2025. The building will, in layman’s terms, serve as the front porch of the campus. It will be the point of entry for visitors and will house the Student Activities Center with construction designed to maximize the social interactive experience for students.
All interior demolition on the Phil Campbell campus is now complete, with mechanical and electrical work ongoing, Goodwin said.
The gym renovation is 75% complete and ‘coming along nicely’ according to Goodwin.
Extensive work will be done on the retaining wall behind the campus to stabilize the embankment to reduce or eliminate erosion, but that part of the project remains under design.
A new roof has been installed on the welding building and classrooms are due to be completed next July.
“When we said we were doing a total renovation of the Phil Campbell campus, we meant it,” Goodwin said.
713 Franklin County high school students are enrolled in NWSCC dual enrollment classes, with 408 of those in Russellville City Schools. Those students are enrolled in a total of 1,606 classes, and are benefitting from grant funding in the amount of $842,000, Goodwin said.
Outstanding Employees of the Year for 2024, as voted on by their peers, included:
--Kristi Gargis, Belgreen High School.
--Bo Weeks, East Franklin Junior High School.
--Todd Johnson, Franklin County Career Technical School.
--Jill Harris, Phil Campbell Elementary School.
--Jenny May, Phil Campbell High School.
--Linda Markham, Red Bay Elementary School.
--Kendra James, Red Bay High School.
--Rebecca Allen, Russellville Elementary School.
--Kim Burney, Russellville High School.
--Lee Brownell, Russellville Middle School.
--Gayla Mills, West Elementary School.
--Cheryl Tverberg, Tharptown Elementary School.
--Karen Robinson, Tharptown High School.
--Sharon Sparks, Vina High School.
--Cyndi James, Franklin County Schools Central Office.
--Randy Dowdy, Russellville City Schools Central Office.
Lex May was honored as NWSCC Phil Campbell Campus Outstanding Employee of the Year.
