Progress 2024: High schools reach for achievements and continue to grow

Published 12:00 am Saturday, February 24, 2024

Education in Limestone County has always been a priority — and that is borne out by the breadth and success of our myriad school systems. For this Progress 2024 section of The News Courier, we asked each of the following school systems the same questions:

1. What would you consider your top accomplishments for the 2022-2023 school year?

2. What goals are you working on in the 2023-2024 school year, or are you preparing for the 2024-2025 school year?

3. Hearing from a top administrator, how you feel your school is doing/growing?

The answers for our city, county and private schools are below.

Limestone County Schools, Randy Shearouse, superintendent

1a. The district has continued to improve its financial stability by paying down existing debt and not incurring any new debt.

1b. The ability to start and complete numerous construction projects across the district for the benefit of our students without borrowing any funds to do so.

1c. Overall academic improvements at our schools on the ACAP in reading and math.

2a. Continuous academic improvement.

2b. Completion of major construction projects, such as the new Elkmont Elementary and the new Johnson addition.

3. The district is making overall academic progress with many dedicated employees who have the best interest of students at heart. Financial stability has allowed the district to provide many more opportunities for our students such as better facilities and extending educational opportunities at every school in the district.

Athens City Schools, Beth Patton, superintendent

Limestone County Career and Technical Education Center, Dual Enrollment, and the Academy of Craft Training North Alabama. Students are preparing for high-wage and high-demand careers that will help to fill the regional workforce needs and even have the opportunity to earn relevant industry credentials to graduate college and career-ready.

Athens City Schools offers CTE Academies such as Health Science, Engineering, Finance, JROTC, Education and Training, Marketing, Hospitality and Tourism, and Work-Based Learning. We are very fortunate to have a partnership with Limestone County Career and Technical Center that expands our Career and Technical offerings, to include Automotive Services, Building Construction, Collision Repair, Cosmetology, Drafting Design, Precision Machining, Welding, and more. Athens High School is proud to partner with the Academy of Craft Training North Alabama to prepare our students for high-demand careers in commercial construction. Students have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in areas such as Electrical, HVAC, Welding, and Building Construction at ACT North Alabama.

Capital Projects

We’re excited to be in one of the fastest-growing areas in the state. We are preparing for the increase in enrollment at all of our schools.

– We welcomed our iAcademy at Athens Elementary Golden Eagles to their brand new home in January 2023. This beautiful 66,000-square-foot school accommodates up to 600 students.

– HEART Academy at Julian Newman Elementary School said “farewell” to their old school building and moved to their temporary home, located at the ACS Clinton Street Campus, in Summer 2023. Demolition on HEART at JNES began in early fall and we look forward to breaking ground on the new HEART Academy at Julian Newman in the next few weeks. The new HEART Academy at JNES will accommodate up to 700 students. We hope to have this project completed by the Fall of 2025.

– Work is under way at Athens Intermediate School to add 8 classrooms and a gym with a storm shelter. This project should be completed by January 2025.

– and due to continued growth in our area, we are looking to secure land on the eastern side of town for an additional school.

Safety

We are always focused on school safety. Athens City Schools has added additional security cameras throughout our schools and vape detectors on our secondary campuses. We launched Centegix CrisisAlert throughout the district. The CrisisAlert badge enables every employee on any of our campuses the ability to request assistance and implement emergency protocols from anywhere on campus. CrisisAlert delivers a precise alert location with immediate audio and visual incident notifications that include lighted strobes, screen messages on school-issued devices, and audio intercom messages. Coverage is available both inside and outside the building, including parking lots and athletic fields. The safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff is always our top priority.

Athens Bible School, Chris Duke, principal

1a. Expanding elementary counseling program.

1b. Opening new baseball field on the Persell Campus.

2a. Reaccreditation from Cognia (will be completed this year).

2b. Becoming an IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing) Certified School.

2c. Opening new softball field on Persell Campus.

3. After almost five years at the new campus, we are excited about the growth in enrollment, continued commitment to a quality education in a Christian environment, and expansion of athletic facilities. After eighty one years of devoted service to thousands of families, Athens Bible School looks forward to being an integral part of the community for many years to come.

Lindsay Lane Christian Academy, Katrina Williams, principal

1. It is always exciting to watch how LLCA grows and changes throughout each year. Last school year, we saw growth in our student body and the addition of opportunities for our students. We added three new positions including a Dean of Students, Middle School Principal, and College & Career Counselor. Our Guidance Office increased opportunities for student internships and job shadowing. In addition, we began a partnership with the Limestone County Career Technical Center to allow high school students to participate in career tech programs. Construction began on a multi-million dollar facility to be completed in early 2024. This addition includes a new gymnasium and athletic facilities, a science lab, storm shelter, and 14 additional classrooms.

2. Each school year, LLCA strives to increase opportunities for students’ spiritual, academic, athletic and extra-curricular growth. We have expanded our dual credit course offerings to now include college-level courses in Economics, Business, Management, and Music. New athletic teams include flag football, soccer, and boys’ tennis. This year, girls in 5th-8th grades are able to join the Bright Lights Club. This club allows the girls to participate in fun and meaningful activities while learning where their worth comes from, how to be a good friend, and how to be a “bright light” in their school and community.

The completion of our new facility expansion at the Sanderfer Road Campus this spring will allow for major, exciting changes. Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, all students in 2nd-12th grades will attend classes on one campus — with dedicated spaces for elementary, middle, and high school. Facility goals include completion of a brand new playground on Sanderfer Road and upgrades to the existing playground at the Bradford Road Campus. New preschool classrooms will be added to the Bradford Road location as well. The long-term vision for LLCA is to have a K-12 campus at the Sanderfer Road location, and all of these changes are important steps in realizing that goal.

3. This is a very exciting time to see all that God is doing through His ministry at LLCA. Strong partnerships with our families and community have allowed LLCA to continuously grow and thrive. I have a daily, front-row seat to witness an incredible staff, united in their love for our students and for this ministry. Each student in our classrooms is an amazing blessing — full of talent and potential. There is always more work to be done in education, and all of LLCA is working each day to provide excellence to our students and families as we Raise Champions for Christ.