INSIDE: n Obituaries, page 2 nReligion, page 6 n Classifieds, page 9 n Sports, page 11
Weekend
OPINION, PAGE 4: WE APPRECIATE PLANNING EFFORTS OF LOCAL AGENCIES
The Outlook
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
January 7-8, 2017
Vol. 125, No. 5
www.alexcityoutlook.com
Encourage Entrepreneurs!
LOCAL SCHOOLS GET SOLID REPORT CARDS
Area deals with late arriving icy conditions Officials urge residents to limit travel at this time By MITCH SNEED and CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writers
After a week of watching electronic models and forecasts, local officials waited most of Friday for a wintry mix to come and the sun had almost set before rain that had fallen started to freeze and sleet started to pelt Tallapoosa County. The problems varied depending on the location, but as temperatures fell below freezing late in the day, slick spots started to form. With temperatures expected to remain below freezing into Saturday, Sheriff Jimmy Abbett gave the best advice. “When it comes to driving, ice is the worst possible problem we have to deal with,” Abbett said. “Unless it’s absolutely essential to travel stay at See WEATHER • Page 3
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Local schools implemented staggered early release schedules to ensure students received two meals and were allotted enough time to travel home before icy weather conditions arrived. While it created a traffic crunch, Alexander City and Tallapoosa County students got home safely. In addition to schools, several area banks and businesses closed early to beat the ice.
City and county see areas where they can improve performance By MITCH SNEED Editor
There has been some controversy statewide about the Alabama State Department of Education release of a school and system A-F Report Card, that didn’t include letter grades. But rather than getting into that side of the debate, local systems got grades that showed that they are “passing” and helped identify some areas where improvement can be made. In Alexander City, the system scored 90.54 in learning gains in reading and math. The system received an indicator score of 58.86 in student achievement in reading and math. The system also had an 85 percent gradation rate. The local gain indicator, which is tied to student outcomes, was a perfect score of 100. Tallapoosa County Schools received an indicator score of 81.31 in learning gains in reading and See REPORT • Page 7
Groups to discuss plans for Hamp Lyon Stadium By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
File / The Outlook
This conceptual drawing shows the kind of things that are planned in the renovation of Alexander City’s Hamp Lyon Stadium. Officials plan to meet next week to get a status report and plan for what is to come.
Mainstreet Alexander City reports that the parties involved in the renovation to Hamp Lyon Field are scheduled to meet next week to talk progress and strategy as the construction date nears. Director Richard Wagoner said the first phase of construction to the historic football field in downtown Alexander City was set to begin around the first of April. Next Wednesday, he said he would meet with representatives
from the City of Alexander City, Tallapoosa County Commissioners and Alexander City Schools to take stock of what had been done and what was needed as they move toward phase one. He said that phase begins with demolition of existing structures at the field, and the groundwork that was required before any further construction could commence. Wagoner said there was about $175,000 worth of materials needed to install the drainage and wiring components. He said the development was
halted late in 2016 as the engineers advised that the work not begin during the traditionally rainy September and October months which fell during the extreme drought conditions. Meeting state criteria that had to be met as a result of building on a school ground was an obstacle as well. “It took us some time to get all the plans approved,” said Wagoner. In surveying the grounds Wagoner said they discovered See HAMP LYON • Page 3
Alex City Education Foundation, city schools hires new executive director By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
The Alexander City Schools Education Foundation has found a new executive director and Alexander City Schools a new grant writer by combining the positions and hiring a local woman with an expansive history in finance and fundraising. Alexander City School Superintendent Darrell Cooper said it was developed last fall resulting from a duel need of the school board for a grant writer, and the education foundation an executive director. Karen Jennings is the first person to hold the position, and said she felt it was a perfect position for her. Cooper said they combined the parttime positions to make a full-time salaried position and set out on interviews, closing out the process in October.
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He said hiring a grant writer for the schools had been a goal on their strategic plan for years. “We’re thrilled to have Karen on board on our staff. It’s the first time we’ve had someone like this,” said Cooper. As executive director of the ACSEF Jennings said she would oversee a number of duties, including the marketing, fundraising and implementation of projects. She said one part of her role as executive director would be to work on behalf of the foundation and its board in a fulltime capacity, whereas previously the board members split their time between their personal lives and the foundation. “There is just a plethora of things that you have to do. One of the main goals for the education foundation is to have somebody that can be here for the whole time,” said Jennings. “But I think they recognize that it can be so much more if
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they have somebody in place to follow through.” A joint statement released on behalf of the schools and the foundation stated she would be seeking grants for both entities largely under the direction of the superintendent. The statement also said Jennings would serve as liaison between the ACSEF Board of Directors, ACS, volunteers, principals and community groups. “Grant writing, you have to dedicate time and effort to it just to find them, to understand them and just to write them,” said Jennings. “I should be able to do that for both sides.” Coming from a financial background, she said she would have to be acclimated to the entire school system to learn the needs and to prioritize where to begin looking for grants.
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