Thorsby opens with more students
By Russ Bryan
The Thorsby High School faculty and staff welcomed students back to school on Aug. 10 to begin the 2009-10 school year.
The school has been under an enrollment freeze for the past four years.
This school year, the enrollment freeze was lifted, which resulted in a large turnout of new student enrollments.
Last fall, the student population was 831 during the first 20 days of school.
The student enrollment on the third day of school this year was 898.
The halls are crowded and the classrooms are full, but student behavior has been exceptional.
Many thanks are due to the faculty, staff, students and parents for handling the largest enrollment period for our school.
The increase in student enrollment leaves the school short on textbooks, materials and supplies.
The state of Alabama will not provide funding for these items this year due to budget cuts because of the current economic conditions.
The lack of funding causes school officials to look for other means to help students achieve.
Students are being provided information to help them view textbooks online at school and at home.
Also, the addition of the new ACCESS Lab enables the students to take online courses, which enhances student learning and helps to reduce overcrowded classrooms.
Many students are taking courses online that would not be available to them otherwise.
Thorsby High School will become a School Wide Title 1 School this year, making the transformation from a Targeted Assisted School.
This means that all students and teachers can benefit from the federal funding designated for the school instead of a targeted group.
Faculty and staff members are optimistic that the change can help with funding some areas that were cut by the state of Alabama.
An asset to the area is the addition of the Jefferson State Community College campus in Clanton.
Students from Thorsby High School will be able to earn college credit while still in high school.
School officials have reached an agreement to allow students to take classes during the school day and at night. This will be a wonderful opportunity for our students.
Russ Bryan is principal of Thorsby School.
The Thorsby High School faculty and staff welcomed students back to school on Aug. 10 to begin the 2009-10 school year.
The school has been under an enrollment freeze for the past four years. This school year, the enrollment freeze was lifted, which resulted in a large turnout of new student enrollments.
Last fall, the student population was 831 during the first 20 days of school. The student enrollment on the third day of school this year was 898. The halls are crowded and the classrooms are full, but student behavior has been exceptional.
Many thanks are due to the faculty, staff, students and parents for handling the largest enrollment period for our school. The increase in student enrollment leaves the school short on textbooks, materials and supplies. The state of Alabama will not provide funding for these items this year due to budget cuts because of the current economic conditions.
The lack of funding causes school officials to look for other means to help students achieve. Students are being provided information to help them view textbooks online at school and at home. Also, the addition of the new ACCESS Lab enables the students to take online courses, which enhances student learning and helps to reduce overcrowded classrooms.
Many students are taking courses online that would not be available to them otherwise.
Thorsby High School will become a School Wide Title 1 School this year, making the transformation from a Targeted Assisted School. This means that all students and teachers can benefit from the federal funding designated for the school instead of a targeted group. Faculty and staff members are optimistic that the change can help with funding some areas that were cut by the state of Alabama.
An asset to the area is the addition of the Jefferson State Community College campus in Clanton. Students from Thorsby High School will be able to earn college credit while still in high school. School officials have reached an agreement to allow students to take classes during the school day and at night. This will be a wonderful opportunity for our students.
– Russ Bryan is principal of Thorsby School.
