Marion County Schools

Schools respond to threat misinformation

A Guin police vehicle is parked outside of Guin Elementary School on Thursday, April 27, while schools within Marion County were on a “soft lockdown,” due to misinformation on social media regarding threats made to Phil Campbell High School the previous day.

MARION COUNTY — Marion County schools took safety precautions last Thursday, April 27, after social media response to a threat made on social media towards a school in another county.
Earlier last week, threats were made against Phil Campbell High School in Franklin County.  
According to Marion County Schools Superintendent Ann West, even though Phil Campbell is not in Marion County, someone created a post on the social media app Snapchat to say that children should not be in school that day because of the threats to Phil Campbell.

School test scores revealing in core subjects

The top three schools in overall English/Language Arts are Guin (72.6 percent), Winfield (72.1 percent) and Hamilton (65.1 percent) elementary schools.

By P.J. Gossett
General Manager
MARION COUNTY — Standardized test scores have been released for the 2021-2022 school year for the entire state regarding public schools. Students took the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program, along with the college-entry ACT test. The data is available online for each school or for comparison to other schools or districts.

Schools facing effects of “Don’t Say Gay” bill

By Louis Mellini
Staff writer
MARION COUNTY — An Alabama law prohibiting transgender K-12 students from using the bathroom which aligns with their gender identity, while also prohibiting discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation, is now law and will be up for vote as a new rule for schools in the state this week.
While the law came into effect in April of this year, The Alabama Board of Education voted whether or not to implement the new law as a rule for schools in the state.

COVID-19 affecting students

Students change classes on Monday morning, Jan. 31. Marion County Schools Superintendent Ann West said Marion County schools saw a spike of cases, but that number has started to decrease.

By Louis Mellini and
Luke Brantley
Staff writers
MARION COUNTY — This round of COVID-19 outbreak has seen a noticible uptick in cases among younger people throughout the nation, putting strains on school systems throughout the country.
Marion County Superintendent  of Education Ann West and Winfield City Schools Superintendent of Education Randy Thomley spoke to the Journal Record concerning the recent spread of COVID affecting their respective schools.

Substitute teachers needed

By Scott Johnson General Manager HAMILTON - Substitute teachers were in short supply during the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be two opportunities to sign up as a substitute teacher with the Marion County School System throughout the next year. The Marion County Board of Education will be signing up new substitute teachers, support workers, lunchroom workers and bus drivers on Wednesday, July 7, 2021, from 8 a.m - noon and 1 - 3:30 p.m. The final day to sign up for the first semester will be Tuesday, Aug. 3, from 8:30 a.m. - noon and 1-3:30 p.m.

More than $1.7M in scholarships earned


Marion County Schools’ seniors were awarded approximately $1,729,460 in scholarship money this year.
The amount is the collective pool of 219 graduating students across five high schools in the Class of 2021, including Brilliant High School, Hackleburg High School, Hamilton High School, Marion County High School in Guin and Phillips High School in Bear Creek.
At Brilliant High, 21 graduating seniors were awarded $428,000 in scholarships.
Thirty-nine seniors at Hackleburg  High were awarded a total of $155,520 in scholarships.

Students will eat free through 2022

By Scott Johnson
Managing Editor

All students enrolled in Marion County and Winfield City schools will continue to eat free breakfast and lunch through the 2020-2021 school year, according to an announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Traditional and virtual students have been able to eat free meals throughout the pandemic year. That benefit will continue through May of 2022.

 

Students will eat free through 2022

All students enrolled in Marion County and Winfield City schools will continue to eat free breakfast and lunch through the 2020-2021 school year, according to an announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Traditional and virtual students have been able to eat free meals throughout the pandemic year. That benefit will continue through May of 2022. According to local child nutritional program (CNP) directors, if a student is eating both breakfast and lunch each school day, this would translate to a $675 benefit.

Dearen appointed as new member

Local State Farm Agent Mark Dearen has been appointed to the Marion County Board of Education.
The Marion County school officials met on Friday, Jan. 29, to appoint someone to serve in the District 3, Hamilton seat, replacing outgoing member Belinda McRae, who was elected last year to the State Board of Education.
The District 3 seat is already four years into the election cycle, meaning the position will be up for election in November 2022. However, qualification for the party primary elections will take place later this year.

 

Board accepting letters of interest for open seat


Re-elected Marion County Board of Education (MCBOE) member Daryl Weatherly (right) is administered the oath of office by MCBOE attorney Scott Hunt (foreground). Also shown is board member Beverly Burleson.

HAMILTON - The Marion County Board of Education is seeking to fill an upcoming vacancy.
During the board’s meeting on Thursday, Nov. 19, members voted unanimously to accept letters of interest from those wishing to be considered for appointment to fill the District 3 seat currently occupied by longtime board member Belinda McRae.