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THE WETUMPKA HERALD Elmore County’s Oldest Newspaper - Established 1898
Wetumpka, AL 36092
50¢
WEDNESDAY • JUNE 29, 2016
THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM
VOL. 118, NO.23
Law causes confusion in school board on raises
By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
Based on a recent Alabama bill pertaining to pay raises for education employees, the Elmore County School Board voted to raise the wages of employees across the board, giving a 4 percent raise to those making more than $75,000 by 4 percent, however holding the superintendent to a 2 percent raise. Monday’s school board meeting ran over two hours and was host to a number of issues of debate between board members, however, of those issues, the pay raise topic garnered some of the most contentious discussions.
The debate arose around whether to grant the optional 4 percent increase to public school employees, despite pay rate discrepancies proposed in the bill. At a previous meeting, the board announced the four percent raise would be applied across the school system. The law, or House Bill 121, left it up to local school systems how they chose to apply the raises, which were roughly set at minimums of four percent for employees making less than $75,000, and 2 percent for those making above that. However, Elmore County Public Schools decided to go with the 4 percent salary increase for all employees, after officials said they surveyed roughly 92 percent
of school systems in the state and found that was how they were applying the funds. The bill was signed into law April, 26, according to state documents. However, the language of the bill seemed to be a main reason for debate at the meeting, when Board Chair Larry Teel requested that Superintendent Andre Harrison not recommend the raise, saying it would violate state law. “Mr. Superintendent I’m going to take the privilege of the chair and ask that the next recommendation that you consider not making that recommendation because
Power company suspends recreational flow to Coosa
County considers leasing Board of Education building By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor
County commissioners heard a proposal from Adullam House for the rental of the old Board of Education building located at the corner of E. Bridge and Hill streets. Adullam House Director Angie Spackman told the commissioners that her group has been looking for the last few months around downtown Wetumpka for office space for Adullam House, which is a home for children of incarcerated parents that has been in operation in Elmore County for over 20 years. “We have looked at several facilities,” Spackman said See COMMISSION • Page 3
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Wetumpka Middle School students from grades 5-8 went on a “summer excursion” to the Tennessee Aquarium, as part of the school’s 21st Century Community Learning Center program.
WMS program offers summer learning trips By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer
Several Wetumpka Middle School students have set out on “summer excursions” through the school’s 21st Century Community Learning Center and the edu-
cational trips it provides throughout the state and even into neighboring Georgia and Tennessee. The program’s director, Laconya Warwick, said it was designed to reinforce See LEARNING • Page 5
Alabama Power issued a “lake conditions alert” in a recent press release, which stated that heat and dry conditions have affected water levels and as a result the company will soon cease recreational releases to the Coosa River from the Jordan Dam. According to the statement, the water flows will be suspended starting on the weekend of July 4. The owners of two local businesses that rely on the river have made varying statements in response to the release, however neither seem too concerned by the announcement. Lonnie Carden of Coosa Outdoor Center said it was too early to tell just what the result would be from the power company’s announcement of a suspended water flow. In the release, the company also said lakes in three other river systems would likely experience See LAKE • Page 5
Norris wins Distinguished Young Woman of Elmore County By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor
Incoming Prattville Christian Academy Senior Lauren Norris won the honor of being named 2017 Distinguished Young Woman of Elmore County at the competition held Saturday evening at Elmore County High School. With that honor, Norris also receives a $1,600 scholarship award. The first runner up was Madison Hill of Holtville High School who won a
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$750 scholarship. Second runner up Sarah Ray of Wetumpka High School won $650.00. Other winners included: Be Your Best Self - Essay- $200 Sarah Ray Scholastic Awards - $300 Madison Hill and Sarah Ray Interview Awards - $250 - Sarah Submitted / The Tribune Ray and Brianna Duncan (Holtville Lauren Norris (center) a rising senior at Prattville Christian Academy was High School) Talent Awards - $250 - Madison named 2017 Distinguished Young Woman of Elmore County. Sarah Ray (left) of Wetumpka High School was named second runner up and MadiSee DISTINGUISHED • Page 3 son Hill (right) was named first runner up during the competition.
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