Marion County Board of Education

HAMILTON - Marion County School officials will  “bite the bullet” and fork out additional funds to replace  problematic state-furnished virtual school software.
During a special-called meeting on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 23, the Marion County Board of Education voted unanimously to contract with a Minnesota-based online school software company, Edmentum. The program will cost an estimated $234,000, which will be adjusted depending on enrollment changes.

Marion County Schools’ enrollment numbers have decreased again this year.
During a budget hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 15, Marion County Schools Chief Financial Officer Clint Green told the Marion County Board of Education that overall enrollment at the system is down to 3,210 for the 2020-2021 school year.
This is down 227 total students from six years ago when 3,437 students were attending Marion County Schools in 2014-2015.

Air conditioning projects at Brilliant School and Marion County High School (MCHS) will be postponed due to inflated pricing.
The projects only received bids from one company. That company offered to do the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)  work at Brilliant School for $683,000 and at MCHS for $699,000.
Marion County Superintendent of Education Ann West told the Marion County Board of Education during a meeting on Thursday, July 30, that the bids were much higher than expected.

This plan is based on the current State Health Order and recommendations from the Alabama State Department of Education and is subject to change.

A Message From The Marion County Schools’ Superintendent

HAMILTON - Marion County School students are expected to return to school on schedule.
Marion County Superintendent of Education Ann West says schools are set to open the 2020-2021 school year on Tuesday, Aug. 11, just 36 days from now.
The start date was approved by Marion County Board of Education members in February, prior to the large-scale U.S. outbreak of COVID-19.
“As we all know, any plans we make these days are subject to change,” West said.

HAMILTON - Marion County’s one-cent education sales tax report shows a record $164,401.76 being generated.
Marion County Schools chief financial officer Clint Green told the Journal Record the tax report represents tax dollars generated during April and recorded in May.
Clint said it is his understanding the numbers reflect federal CARES Act stimulus funds being spent locally.

HAMILTON - Twelve Marion County School students finished the school year with a 30 or higher on the ACT.
Marion County Superintendent of Education Ann West says this is the largest group of seniors the system has ever had score so well.
The group was recognized during a Marion County Board  of Education meeting on Wednesday, May 20, at in the system’s central office bus shop.
The 12 county school students join six others from the Winfield City Schools System, giving Marion County a total of 18.

HAMILTON - Marion County Schools saw an unusually large amount of teachers announce their retirement plans this year.
Marion County Superintendent of Education Ann West told school board members during a meeting on Wednesday, April 29, that there were 17 retirements scheduled to take effect June 1.
“I’ve been hearing for a couple of years that this was coming, and it’s here,” West said.
 

HAMILTON - Only 50% of the Marion County School System’s students can participate in online learning from home.
Marion County Superintendent of Education Ann West told members of the Marion County Board of Education during a meeting on Wednesday, April 29, that half of the county system’s student body does not have reliable access to the internet.
School campuses in Marion County have been closed since March 16 due to COVID-19. At-home blended instruction began April 6, per orders by Gov. Kay Ivey.

Hamilton - Marion County’s one-cent education sales tax generated a record $144,815.89 for the month of February.
The collections were reported during the Marion County Board of Education’s meeting on Wednesday, March 18. The sales tax outpaced last February’s collections ($135,026.63) by $9,789.26.
The one-cent sales tax report reflects the total amount of sales countywide, meaning that $14,481,589 was generated in gross sales in Marion County last month. However, the education sales tax does not account for online sales made locally.