School Improvement Projects

Thursday, February 2, 2023

All families, faculty, and staff in the Sipsey Valley High School feeder pattern are invited to an informational meeting on Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 6 pm at Sipsey Valley High School. The Sipsey Valley High feeder pattern includes Buhl Elementary, Myrtlewood Elementary, Sipsey Valley High, Sipsey Valley Middle, and Westwood Elementary.

The purpose of this meeting is to share information with you about proposed improvements for all students in the Tuscaloosa County School System, and proposed improvements specific to the Sipsey Valley High feeder pattern.

How would these improvements be funded?

Funds to support these improvements would be generated by an additional eight mills of property taxes in Tuscaloosa County. All registered voters in Tuscaloosa County will have the opportunity to vote on the eight mill property tax on Tuesday, February 14, 2023. The February 9 meeting is an opportunity for you to learn how these funds would be used to support students.

Currently, Tuscaloosa County ranks at the bottom of the state in millage rate for local school funding; however, TCSS is one of the largest school systems in the state. Out of 139 school systems in Alabama, TCSS is number one by geographic size and number nine in student population. TCSS serves approximately 19,000 students. The last time Tuscaloosa County voters approved a millage rate increase for local school funding was more than 100 years ago, in 1917.

Below is a brief summary of the proposed improvements for all TCSS schools.

Proposed improvements that would impact the entire district include:

• More school resource officers and building security improvements
• Pre-K available to all students
• Smaller class sizes
• More electives and career tech options
• Dual enrollment scholarships
• Art and music classes for elementary schools
• Increased mental health resources
• Construction of a centrally-located performing arts venue

The first round of proposed improvements for the Sipsey Valley High Attendance Zone includes:

• Career Technical Education Addition for Sipsey Valley High
• Athletics facilities updates for Sipsey Valley Middle

These are not all of the projects that would be completed in the SVHS attendance zone, only the first round.

These projects would join other recent improvements completed in the Sipsey Valley High attendance zone:

• Sipsey Valley Middle - Completed 2019
• Sipsey Valley High - Completed 2010
• Myrtlewood Elementary Major Renovation - Completed 2022

How much does eight mills equate to in dollars?

• If Tuscaloosa County voters approve the eight mill property tax, someone who owns a home or property with a $100,000 tax appraised value would pay about $75 per year in additional property tax.

• Someone who owns a home or property with a $200,000 tax appraised value would pay about $150 per year in additional property tax.

• Someone who owns a home or property with a $300,000 tax appraised value would pay about $225 per year in additional property tax.

The funds generated by the eight mills would provide approximately $15 million each year, to meet needs of TCSS schools, not addressed by current local, state, or federal funding.

This information and more will be presented at the meeting Thursday, February 9, at 6 pm at Sipsey Valley High School. You may also read more at our TCSS web site.