Elmore County Schools

SEHS is closing out of phase three in a five phase modernization of the school

Massive growth implores new projects in the pipeline

ELMORE COUNTY DISTRICT SCHOOLS

The Elmore County School District has so much to offer new and returning students. From leading programs in theater, science and band to dynamic athletic programs and excellent school ratings, it is an exciting time for the Elmore County School District.

New schools are being built, others renovated and some are receiving additions. The county is experiencing tremendous growth and embracing it with open arms.

With more than 11,200 students, Superintendent Richard Dennis is working steadfast with the school boards school administrators, teachers and students to ensure that everyone receives the best education possible in facilities that support the district's learning goals.

“We are experiencing a ton of growth,” Dennis said. “Redland is the fastest growing area, and we are building a middle school there to accommodate the growth; lots of construction going on.

“I would say Holtville is the second fastest growing area. They are at capacity currently, and we are putting a portable at every school in Holtville this year.”

Dennis said each pre-school in the county is getting a portable this year, as well. There are a lot of rooftops going up around the county, like the new career tech center, which offers training in multiple trades, including aviation, plumbing and education; they are looking to add a diesel mechanic bay this year, too.

Stanhope Elmore High School is currently in Phase three of a renovation that will unveil a new band and choral facility. Once phase three is complete, SEHS will move into phase four. During phase four, the old gymnasium will be transformed into a gymnatorium complete with air conditioning, new dressing rooms and an inset stage for performing arts.

Dennis said when phase four is complete, the band and choral room will be within walking steps to a grand theater setting, which would allow the gymnatorium to become the mecca for fine arts and athletics at SEHS.

Dennis is a proponent of fine arts, and under his tutelage, the schools in Elmore County have expanded the fine arts programs, as well as athletic programs. New supplements have been implemented, and each school teaches and encourages life-skills-based learning through participating in co- and extracurricular activities.

“I was a high school principal for 19 years, and my philosophy is this: The No. 1 priority is my students’ physical and mental wellbeing. Second, we have to deal with academics. Third is co- and extracurricular activities, but this is what it's about for the students, the co- and extracurricular activities. This is where their passions are. If I can get them

STORY BY BRITTANY SMITH PHOTOS BY JAKE ARTHUR

involved in those activities, they will do the English, math and science, and that is the whole key that we are trying to accomplish,” Dennis said.

“Plus, by participating in co- and extracurricular activities, students will learn life skills that will be huge for them in the future.”

Dennis said there is nothing quite like face-to-face instruction; and therefore, the Elmore County School District will not be running virtual school on campus this year, but any student who is interested in virtual school could enroll in Elmore County’s Diverse Gateway Education program.

All schools throughout the county will have a pre-K program, and a new child development center is being built in Holtville; however, there is a wait list, and those moving to the Holtville area that are looking for a pre-K program should contact the school immediately to get on the list.

In addition to the aforementioned, other new projects are popping up all over the county, and Dennis said there are a lot of projects in the pipeline.

Both Elmore and Holtville high schools are looking at plans to expand each campus because they have almost reached capacity. Wetumpka High School will begin building a state-of-the-art performing arts center in the near future.

Because Elmore County has 16 public schools, all with different strengths, they offer prospective students hardship waivers. These waivers are for students who live in the Elmore County Public School zone but choose to attend a school that is not in the district in which they reside.

“Now if someone moves into Tallassee, this will not necessarily qualify them because Tallassee has their own school district, but say someone moves to Eclectic and wants to attend Wetumpka, there are hardship wavers on our website that can make it possible. The parent or guardian would fill out the hardship waiver, and it comes to me. If there is space at the prospective school, I will forward the hardship waiver to the principal at that school. This is where we make the exception and allow the student to attend that school based on the principal's recommendation,” Dennis explained.

In certain circumstances, Dennis said, the program shuts down if there are overloads. Currently, both Holtville and Redland are on a hold because numbers are at capacity.

Elmore County also offers an out-of-district participation opportunity for those who live outside of the county but wish to attend an Elmore County school. For more information on hardship waivers or to enroll at an Elmore County School, visit elmoreco.com or stop in at the school board office located at 100 H. H. Robinson Dr., Wetumpka. TALLASSEE DISTRICT SCHOOLS

On Feb. 23, 1889, the General Assembly of Alabama passed an act to create and incorporate a separate school district in Elmore County to be known as the Tallassee School District. The people of Tallassee and the Tallassee mills wanted their own public schools. And today, they still operate independent of Elmore County.

Because Tallassee straddles both the Elmore County and Tallapoosa County lines, it is an all-inclusive school system. This means that students at Tallassee district schools can live in either Elmore or Tallapoosa county.

The district consists of three schools – one elementary school, one middle school and one high school – and is home to more than 1,500 students.

TSD belongs to the Alabama High School Athletic Association and boasts multiple state championships in baseball and swim team. They also have won awards in archery and many other sports.

“2021 was our first year having a fishing team, and they won the Alabama Association Classic. We are proud of that,” said Dr. Brock Nolin, superintendent of Tallassee School District.

In addition to being an athletic powerhouse, TSD received exemplary marks during accreditation with Cognia and received an all-passing during the pandemic on state monitored tests.

“Any family that is looking to relocate to the Montgomery area should definitely give Tallassee a look,” Nolin said. “We are one of the smaller 5-A schools in the area, but we have so much going for us.

“When I think of Tallassee, I remember the old Cheers motto, ‘Where everybody know your name.’ Well that’s pretty much it. If you are looking for a small-town feel, where everyone knows your name and you’d like to be part of an inclusive community, Tallassee is the place.”

Nolin said there is a lot going on across the community as

well.

“The mayor has been working on a lot of grant projects to revitalize our downtown, and that is going to be a great. We work really well together, and so we’ve been able to get the new high school going, which has been 20 years in the making.”

According to Nolin, the 2021 school year will bring in a new principal to THS, Drew Glass. This will be his first principalship; however, he was previously at Wetumpka High School and was named the 2020-2021 Assistant Principal of the Year.

“We are very fortunate to have Mr. Glass as the new principal at Tallassee High School. He is going to do a great job,” Nolin said.

A challenge that Glass will face his first year is the demolition of the 100-year-old high school. It is being replaced with a brand new facility, and all high school classes will be functioning in modulars for the 2021-2022 school year. Nolin said the new high school is slated to open its doors the fall of 2022.

“We will have an all new facility, a new auditorium with a state-of-the-art stage and a fine arts facility that has theater, chorus and band rooms,” he said. “The auditorium is 650 square feet and will double as a storm shelter that could hold up to 850 people in the state of an emergency.”

Nolin said that Tallassee has a dynamic show choir, men's and women's individual choirs, marching band and jazz band, and this year, they are starting to push the music programs to the middle school and elementary school.

“One of the goals that I gave the schools this past year is to start the music program at the elementary level, so we’ve worked to get our schedules together so that our high school music personnel can actually serve some time at the middle and elementary schools.”

Nolin said that classes will be held face-to-face this year unless a child has a medical need or a 504 plan.

“We did a few studies with our gifted students and even the top 5 percent of those students struggled with virtual learning. I just don’t think there is a substitute for face-toface learning,” Nolin said.

Another great perk to becoming a Tiger is the art program at the elementary school, Nolin said. They have a designated art teacher at the elementary school, and all students pass through the program.

“When I say art, I mean the kids are hand-ons drawing and learning art. It is a great program,” said Nolin. “We also have a designated STEM lab, so all of our kids get STEM education both at the elementary school and the middle school. We actually have two STEM labs at the middle school.

“And our high school kind of pushed itself into the career tech field. We also have dual enrollment through Southern Union Community College, and a complete AP program at the high school.”

Nolin said students at the high school could choose to go through the career tech field and take a career tech course paired with a general college course, like English 101 and it can be paid for, or if they don’t want to do the career tech program, they can actually pay for the English 101 class.

The career tech program through Southern Union offers five pathways now, including a new health occupations program option.

The front of THS retains the character of the old high school

The state-of-the-art auditorium will hold up to 850 people