School Improvement Projects

January 25, 2023

All families, faculty, and staff in the Brookwood High School feeder pattern are invited to an informational meeting on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at 6 pm in the Brookwood High School gym. The Brookwood High feeder pattern includes Brookwood Elementary, Brookwood High, Brookwood Middle, Lake View Elementary, and Vance 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 Brookwood 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 January 31 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 Brookwood High Attendance Zone includes:

• New main building for Vance Elementary
• Middle school athletics facilities updates
• New Lake View area middle school

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

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 assessed value would pay about $75 per year in additional property tax.

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

• Someone who owns a home or property with a $300,000 assessed 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 Tuesday, January 31, at 6 pm in the Brookwood High School gym. You may also read more at our TCSS web site.