School Improvement Projects

January 26, 2023

All families, faculty, and staff in the Tuscaloosa County High School feeder pattern are invited to an informational meeting on Thursday, January 26, 2023 at 6 pm in the Tuscaloosa County High School gym. The TCHS feeder pattern includes Crestmont Elementary, Faucett-Vestavia Elementary, Flatwoods Elementary, Matthews Elementary, Huntington Place Elementary, Northport Elementary, Collins-Riverside Intermediate, Northport Intermediate, Echols Middle, and Tuscaloosa County High. Families and faculty/staff of Lloyd Wood Education Center are also invited to this meeting.

Please park in the TCHS south parking lot. If you drive up to the front entrance of TCHS, the south parking lot will be on the side of the building that is to your left. Please enter the doors that face the south parking lot.

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 TCHS 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 26 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 TCHS Attendance Zone includes:

• New elementary school for Crestmont and Matthews students
• New elementary school for Flatwoods students
• Current Collins-Riverside building would close, Echols building would serve grades 5-8
• Northport Intermediate would receive a classroom addition, in order to accommodate students in grades 5-8
• TCHS track updates
• Middle school athletic facilities updates

Faculty and staff positions would not be lost in the closing of current buildings and opening of new ones. Positions are based on number of students, and TCSS is experiencing student population growth, not student population loss.

The process of reconfiguring grades in our intermediate and middle schools would include careful planning, so that schools would have appropriate spaces and learning environments for grades 5-6 and grades 7-8. Moving fifth grade out of elementary schools addresses overcrowding in elementary schools, and creates space for expanded pre-k, art and music classes, and smaller class sizes.

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 Thursday, January 26, at 6 pm in the Tuscaloosa County High School gym. You may also read more at our TCSS web site.