Back to School Day one is a success across Tallapoosa County STORY BY BRITTANY SMITH PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS & JAKE ARTHUR
“I
t’s bedtime, school starts tomorrow,” is commentary most kids loathe to hear from parents. Phrases heard in response often include, “But I don’t want to.” “Already? Summer just started!” or “I’m not going to school.” And of course there is the occasional, “I cannot wait!” This year, in Tallapoosa County, parents were relieved to hear the resounding, “I cannot wait,” as kids were excited to get back to school. After all, this is where their friends are and their future waits. Since COVID-19 has taken over the world, everyone is excited to experience as much normalcy as possible and so the first day of school in Alexander City and Dadeville went off without a hitch. From parents snapping numerous first-day-of-school photos and flooding social media accounts like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to moms gathering on the front lawn of the schools and directing their kids for a ful- on photo shoot, everyone was excited to send their children off to become mighty learners. According to Dr. Keith Lankford, superintendent of Alexander City Schools, day one went very well. “Car line and transportation was a struggle but overall, the first day of school went very well,” he said. “We were fully staffed, and with the teacher shortage, that was something that we 22 Lake Martin Living
