HUNTSVILLE — Emphasising the “beauty of public education” by serving every child, officials with Madison County’s three school systems spoke Thursday about the issues facing public schools.
Their remarks came at the annual State of the Schools event which features the superintendents of Huntsville City Schools, Madison County Schools, and Madison City Schools.
Hosted by the Huntsville Madison County Chamber, Board Chair and President & CEO of Huntsville Hospital Health System Jeff Samz said the business community plays a vital role in the advancement of our schools.
“A key element of our community’s success and our commitment to ensure a qualified, prepared workforce,” said Samz. “Having strong schools with diverse, well equipped programs is critical for workforce development and directly impacts our ability for companies and individuals.
“Our community continues to invest countless hours and dollars to prepare our young people for successful careers.”
Matt Massey, president of the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering, provided an update on the nation’s only school of its kind. Massey said the school started with 72 students housed at Oakwood University.
“Where we are now four years later, we have 365 students, 100-plus kids in our dorms and we have over a dozen athletic programs and over a dozen other clubs that compete at a state level,” he said.
Massey said the school is working on capital projects including a soccer field and a central arts centers for drama and band as well as a first of its kind K-12 Research Center.
The superintendents panel included Huntsville City Schools’ Dr. Clarence Sutton, Madison City Schools’ Dr. Ed Nichols, and Madison County Schools’ Ken Kubrick. The superintendents touted numerous programs available to support workforce readiness and prepare a path of success for every child in Madison County.
Sutton emphasized Huntsville City School’s role in supporting all students, saying “public education serves every child”.
“We do not deny any student from pre-K to the senior in high school,” he said. “And that’s the beauty of public education.”
Sutton stressed that children with special needs or special requirements are welcome and embraced at public schools.
Private schools are not required to accept all students and are not subject to the same accountability standards as public schools.
Nichols addressed the issue of accountability within private schools that receive public funds after the Choose Alabama Act was enacted last year.
“I’m all for people making decisions, but I’m also all for playing in the same field and having accountability,” he said.
Nichols said private schools are not required to take state tests to ensure their students are up to the standards public schools are held to.
Fast paced growth in the region has also affected all three school systems. In Madison County, Kubrick said they are building to keep up student needs.
“Hazel Green, that’s the first thing,” he said. “We’re building a wing on Hazel Green High School. So it’ll go from a capacity of about 1,600 to 1,900.”
Kubrick said next they will add another school on land north of Hazel Green High School.
“We’re looking at putting another school up there and it’s going to be, you know, it’ll be a school to relieve the pressure at Hazel Green Elementary School, Walnut Grove and Meridian, the middle school,” Kubrick said.
All three superintendents stressed the importance of supporting teachers and staff, culminating in a call to action from Nichols.
“I think it’s time for our community to remember that none of us are here today without a teacher,” he said. “The hospitals are not here today without a teacher. The government’s not here. Our community’s not here.”
Nichols said public school teachers are facing more challenges than ever before.
“And let’s take a moment and celebrate because it’s harder today than it’s ever been to be in the classroom in the public school district and handle all that you are mandated to do,” he said.
To show community support, Nichols is advocating a countywide teacher celebration day.
“And so my preaching to the chamber and the community is let’s have a party,” he said. “Let’s celebrate and let those folks know we appreciate it.”
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