Education

Pathway to Education

Anew middle school broke ground in August 2020 for the Redland community. A $27-million project, Redland Middle School is slated to open for the 2022-2023 academic year.

The 111,052-square-foot school is being built on 50 acres of land on Jackson Road donated by county resident and local developer Rodney Griffith. Elmore County Schools superintendent told The Wetumpka Herald two years ago, the project wouldn’t have come to fruition as quickly if it weren’t for Griffith’s generosity.

“This is a prime piece of real estate in Elmore County,” Dennis said at the groundbreaking in August 2020. “It’s incredible what he’s done to help us. Thank you so much for your contribution to Elmore County Public Schools.”

The board approved the land donation at a special-called meeting in December 2019.

The school was designed by Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood to include 32 classrooms, three storm shelters, a gym with lockers, a weight room, a food court-like cafeteria, a media center and several multipurpose spaces, including room for STEM activities. Designed with future expansion in mind, the school could double in size if needed.

Additional visions include space for softball, baseball and football fields.

“It’s not just brick and mortar, although that’s very important because we need those and we need the teachers who will teach our students,” board of education member Leisa Finley said, “but always keep in mind that our schools are made up of those students that make a difference in our community and are the future of our community.”

Prior to the Redland construction, students in the Redland area attended Wetumpka Middle School. More than 1,000 students were enrolled at the school during the 2018-2019 year.

The new school is part of Elmore County’s five-year capital plan, which serves as a guide for the board of education’s funding and scheduling.

To help cover planned expenses, the school board approved a $56.9-million bond at the end of 2019, based on the rapid growth of the student population and need for expansions and new builds.

The bond also covers renovations at Stanhope Elmore in Millbrook to include a band room and music complex, a new theatre space and a transformed dining area. It also covers a $7-million expansion of the Elmore County Technical Center to bring all its offered programs to one campus.

A new middle school is under construction in the Redland community, set to open for the upcoming school year

ELMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS elmoreco.com 100 HH Robinson Dr., Wetumpka 334-567-1200 15 schools totaling 11,000 students Superintendent: Richard E. Dennis Board Members District 1 – Millbrook: Dale Bain, vice chair District 2 – Millbrook and Wetumpka: Wendell Saxon District 3 – Holtville and Millbrook: David Jones District 4 – Holtville and Wetumpka: Michael Morgan, chairman District 5 – Wetumpka and Redland: Leisa Finley District 6 – Eclectic and Wetumpka: Brian Ward District 7 – Eclectic: Joey Holley ECLECTIC Eclectic Child Development Program 35 Harden St., Eclectic 334-541-4532 Director: Starla Riddle

Eclectic Elementary, K-4 35 Harden St., Eclectic 334-541-2291 Principal: Timothy Turley Eclectic Middle School, grades 5-8 170 South Ann St., Eclectic 334-541-2131 Principal: Mark McGhee

Elmore County High School 155 North College Ave., Eclectic 334-541-3662 Principal: Wes Rogers

HOLTVILLE Holtville Child Development Program 287 Whatley Rd., Deatsville 334-514-5858 Director: Aimee Mehearg New facility under construction

Holtville Elementary, K-4 287 Whatley Rd., Deatsville 334-569-2925 Principal: Chris Holley

Holtville Middle School, grades 5-8 655 Bulldog Lane, Deatsville 334-569-1596 Principal: Lee Jackson

Holtville High School 10425 Holtville Rd., Deatsville 334-569-3034 Principal: Kyle Futral MILLBROOK Millbrook Child Development Program 5760 Main St., Millbrook 334-285-9450 Director: Cynthia Smoke Coosada Elementary School, pre-k-12 5260 Airport Rd., Millbrook 334-285-0273 Principal: Janice McKenzie Airport Road Intermediate School, grades 3-4 384 Blackmon Farm Lane, Coosada 334-285-2115 Principal: Marcia Stephens Millbrook Middle School, grades 5-8 4228 Chapman Rd., Millbrook 334-285-2100 Principal: Sean Kreauter

Stanhope Elmore High School 4300 Main St., Millbrook 334-285-4263 Principal: Ewell Fuller

WETUMPKA Wetumpka Child Development Program 499 North Alabama St., Wetumpka 334-514-3925 Director: Taunya Ballenger

ELMORE COUNTY SCHOOLS Redland Elementary, K-6 495 Scholars Dr., Wetumpka 334-567-1248 Principal: Cory Eckstein

Redland Middle School Jackson Rd., Wetumpka Principal: Chad Walls Will be open for the first time August 2022

Wetumpka Elementary School, K-4 510 Micanopy St., Wetumpka 334-567-4323 Principal: Gigi Hankins

Wetumpka Middle School, grades 5-8 1000 Micanopy St., Wetumpka 334-567-1413 Principal: Loukisha Brooks

Wetumpka High School 1251 Coosa River Pkwy., Wetumpka 334-567-5158 Principal: Dr. Robert Slater

Elmore County Technical Center, grades 10-12 800 Kelly Fitzpatrick Dr., Wetumpka 334-567-1218 Director: Emilie Johnson

TALLASSEE CITY SCHOOLS 308 King St., Tallassee 334-283-6864 Tcschools.com Superintendent: Dr. Brock Nolin Board Members District 1 – Kami Scarborough District 2 – Don Bryant, president District 3 – Sonja Moore District 4 – Ruthanne McCaig District 5 – Melanie Goodman District 6 – Heather Miller District 7 – Dr. Steve Burak

Tallassee Elementary School, K-4 850 Friendship Rd., Tallassee 334-283-5001 Principal: Shanikka Beacher Southside Middle School, grades 5-8 901 E.B. Payne Sr. Dr., Tallassee 334-283-2151 Principal: Tim Collier

Tallassee High School 502 Barnett Blvd., Tallassee 334-283-2187 Principal: Drew Glass PRIVATE Adullam House Christian Academy, pre-K, K-12 7469 Georgia Rd., Wetumpka 334-478-3888 Headmaster: Rachel Harborth

Chapman Christian Academy, K-12 4711 Chapman Rd., Millbrook 334-285-5354 Headmaster: Jon Chapman

Edgewood Academy, K-12 5475 Elmore Rd., Elmore 334-567-5102 Headmaster: Jay Adams

New Life Christian Academy, K-12 4230 State Route 14, Millbrook 334-285-6996 Principal: Ira Collier

Victory Christian Academy, nursery-12 3151 State Route 14, Millbrook 334-285-0211 Administrator: Dave Weaver

Elmore County Technical Center offers numerous technical job training opportunities OTHER Elmore County Alternative Programs short-term disciplinary program 124 Chapel Rd., Wetumpka 334-567-1298 Director: Dr. Blair J. Andress

The Edge: Elmore County Virtual Program, grades k-12 517 Micanopy St., Wetumpka 334-514-3931 Principal: Cindy Hines

21st Century Community Learning Centers 334-567-1200 Project Admin: Celeste Tilley Voluntary after-school enrichment program offered in Eclectic, Holtville, Millbrook and Wetumpka middle schools

Ingram State Technical College job training for incarcerated students 334-285-5177 | istc.edu President: Annette Funderburk

“Summer Sunflowers and Thin Red Vines” 2022 by Sarah Rakes acrylic on wood in artist’s handmade frame 29” x 22.75” 31