Core Notes

Tuscaloosa City voters could be going to the polls in 2024 to decide on whether property taxes should be increased to support the Tuscaloosa City Schools, a move that could benefit the school system for decades to come.

On Tuesday, the Tuscaloosa City School Board unanimously voted to offer a tax referendum in 2024. According to the resolution, if city voters approved a tax referendum in 2024, the city's property tax millage rate could increase by up to 11.5 mills.

That which would generate around $17.25 million a year starting in 2025 for the Tuscaloosa City Schools. Currently, the millage rate for homeowners in Tuscaloosa is 51.5 mills, of which the Tuscaloosa City Schools receive 15.5 mills. The referendum, if approved, would increase the millage rate that the Tuscaloosa City Schools receive by 11.5 mills--about a 22 percent increase of the city's total millage rate.

The last time local tax rates were increased to support education was in 1986.

If approved by voters, the new revenue would go towards sustaining certain services and expanding others identified by approximately 2,000 Tuscaloosa community members as vital--including programs like pre-K, summer learning, arts and music instruction, rigorous academic offerings like Advanced Placement courses and career and technical education courses. The increase in revenue would also ensure that the schools continue to offer and expand some services, such as academic interventionists, school nurses and social workers, and offer smaller classrooms and better pay for its educators.

The referendum would focus on funding three key areas in the school system:

• School safety: ensuring there are school resource officers in each and every school during the school day, and beefing up security infrastructure.

• Educator Excellence: retaining and recruiting the best and the brightest educators through competitive pay and benefits.

• Premier Student Programs/Services: Making sure that the current programs continue, and rigorous academic opportunities and student programs are expanded.

While raising taxes are not a popular subject in Alabama--the state has the 49th lowest property taxes in the country--it's an important move to keep the progress of the Tuscaloosa City Schools moving, now and well into the future, said board of education member Patrick Hamner during Tuesday's meeting.

"Strong communities produce strong schools, and strong schools produce strong communities," Hamner said. "It's a two way street, and this is something that is going to benefit the kids starting in two years, and will be, hopefully something that will benefit kids 10, 15 or 20 years from now. And for those of us that employ these children that come out into the workplace, this is a big, big, monumental step that will pay dividends for a long period of time. What we've been doing is outstanding, so far, and we've got some tools in the tool box, and we want to continue doing those things, but continue to push the envelope and demonstrate the value of a TCS education."

Board Member Marvin Lucas agreed.

"This is a long time coming and this is talking for the future of our system, the future of our city, and we must do something to make sure that we maintain strong schools, so we can continue to have a strong community, and it starts here, today, " Lucas said.

The only way that any school system in Alabama can increase revenue is to propose an increase in property taxes for education, according to Jay Duke, the CFSO for the Tuscaloosa City Schools.

Before the referendum can be scheduled, it must first go before the Tuscaloosa City Council for a vote on whether to allow a referendum. Then, if approved, it would go before the Alabama State Legislature for a vote before a referendum date is scheduled. If all the above steps occur, it is likely that the referendum would occur in 2024.

If the referendum passes, it will set up the schools for generations to come in terms of becoming the premier school system that the community deserves, said Dr. Mike Daria, Superintendent of the Tuscaloosa City Schools. But, if the referendum does not pass, the system will have to make severe budget cuts, which would result in reductions of locally-funded teachers, including art and music instruction, workforce development courses, and services such as dedicated school counselors and social workers, interventionists and others. Such cuts would negatively impact students and student progress.

Unfortunately, just like the cost of business has gone up in every industry, it has also gone up in public education, including gas for buses, utility costs, technology cost and salaries. The school system has already made cost-cutting measures, such as selling the old Northington Elementary School campus, renegotiating major contracts, making the school buildings more energy efficient, and keeping the system's administrative costs lower than the 5 percent threshold recommended by the Alabama State Department of Education.

Still, the school system has been relying on a healthy reserve that is set to run out in 2025, without an increase in revenue. The 2024 fiscal year budget includes a deficit of 3.5 percent.

"We have made progress in the Tuscaloosa City Schools in recent years and are continuing to push the needle forward for the success of all our students," Daria said. "But, additional revenue is needed to keep the services that we currently provide and to also expand to offer the best for our students and our community."

The request for an election is likely to be considered by the Tuscaloosa City Council in November or December this year.

Watch the recording of the Oct. 17 board meeting by clicking below:

Congrats to our very own Dr. Mike Daria, Superintendent of the Tuscaloosa City Schools, who was named the 2023 Superintendent of the Year by the School Superintendents of Alabama last week. It is the first time he's won the award, although he had previously been in the running. He will go on to represent Alabama in the National Superintendent of the Year competition in February.

"I am humbled by this honor," Daria said. "But it's indicative of the important work that we do each and every day as a school system. We are blessed to have so many amazing and talented educators who make the real difference for our children."

Northridge Middle School is better preparing students for high school and increasing academic rigor through an A+ College Ready Education Partnership. The school received a grant for the training, resources and incentives through the Alabama Department of Education.

"The training introduced teachers to new instruction teaching strategies, which help students engage the content better, and it deepens the rigor, deepens the knowledge and help students take ownership of the content," said Dr. Jami Rainey, principal of Northridge Middle School.

Students at Northridge Middle have noticed a real difference.

"It's a lot different from last year, because it's more challenging," said Northridge Middle School student Caroline Pate. "I think it's helping us get ready for high school, and to see what we need to work on better."

The goal of the new instruction is to increase rigor for students and help them to be more successful, to discover concepts and ideas and apply knowledge to real world situations. To find out more about the program, check out the video below.

Congrats to Central High School cross country athlete William Peterson, who broke the boys 5k school record at Central High School with a time of 16:19.08! This record was previously held by Brandon York (class of 2003).

October is National Principals Month and a tribute to the pivotal role principals play in leading our schools and shaping the future of our nation’s students. Join us this October as we extend our gratitude to our amazing TCS principals!

Have you thanked a principal lately? If not, send them a thank you note by clicking here:

https://survey.k12insight.com/r/principalmonth

Principals do so much for our children and our schools! All thank you notes will be printed and delivered at the end of the month!

"When I was given these Everyday Amazing cards from Dr. Daria, it brought me to tears, because I didn't know my parents and students loved me as much as they did. The best part of my job is getting to interreact with my students everyday, talking to them, helping them through their problems. It's been 28 years, and I'm not ready to give them up yet. I just love dealing with my children. I enjoy my little babies everyday. Once they get on my bus, they're mine. They're mine for a lifetime, said " Bobbie Gaillard, TCS bus driver, who was nominated several times from students and parents.

Submit your own "Everyday Amazing" shoutout about a TCS employee making a positive impact: https://survey.k12insight.com/r/everydayamazing

Curious about what will happen in case of severe weather? There may be times that the Tuscaloosa City Schools may have to close due to inclement weather. However, we will make up instructional time in-person if a full day of school is missed.

Check out our weather policies and terminology here: News / Emergency Communications (tuscaloosacityschools.com)

Attendance is critical to future success. Please make sure your child is at school, on time, each and every day!

Did you know that TCTA offers a dental assistant program? Northridge High School senior Bailey Weatherly is currently working in the front office of a dental office, which is preparing her for a career as a dental hygienist. She has learned key skills through the Tuscaloosa Career & Technology Academy that she can now apply to her job!

In addition to the technical skills necessary to work in the dental field, Baily said that her class at TCTA has taught her how to interact with patients in a way that keeps them comfortable during cleanings and procedures.

Learn more about TCTA: https://www.tuscaloosacityschools.com/tcta

Join us in celebrating National School Bus Safety Week! Here are some important safety reminders for motorists when driving near buses:

• Slow down and be alert in school zones
• Stop fully for buses with flashing red lights
• Anticipate children crossing & be prepared to stop
• Give buses priority when rejoining traffic
• Stay patient during bus stops

Mini WOW at TCTA has begun for the semester, introducing 4th graders from across the system to future careers and workforce development classes offered within the building. If you have a 4th grader in TCS, ask them about what they learned at "Mini WOW!"

BSN Sports has set up online "swag stores" for our schools where any student, faculty or parent can buy school branded gear. This was a desire that was expressed by students during the Superintendent's student advisory meetings at the high schools last school year.

The "swag" on these sites include a variety of price points, brands, and are in men's, women's and children's sizes, plus they have cups and other items as well. On the main page, they also have gear per sport.

There is also branded gear for the elementary and middle schools, too! To see the middle school and elementary options, on the desktop website, once you have clicked on the type of item to browse, you can go to the sidebar where it says "campus" and then select feeder school, where the items will pop up with other school names. Select the school that you want.

Each feeder zone will receive 10% back of all purchases in the form of a store credit/rebate that can be used for future branded purchases by the school(s). So, support your school and show school pride!

Northridge feeder zone store: NORTHRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL JAGUARS - TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - Sideline Store - BSN Sports

Central feeder zone store: CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL FALCONS - TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - Sideline Store - BSN Sports

Bryant feeder zone store: PAUL W BRYANT HIGH SCHOOL STAMPEDE - COTTONDALE, Alabama - Sideline Store - BSN Sports

The Tuscaloosa City Schools is providing free lunch and breakfast for all students for the 2023-24 school year.

That’s because TCS qualified for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community Eligibility Provision program that provides all students in the district free breakfast and lunch.

While breakfast and lunch is free, A-la-carte items will still be available for purchase at each school. Parents may want to make any applicable changes to their child's PayPAMS account. Student account balances, positive and negative, have not changed. Any money left on a child's account can be used to purchase extra items in the cafeteria. No items may be 'charged' to a student's account unless he/she has money in the account.

Teachers, staff and visitors will still be required to pay for meals. The cost for those non-student meals are $2.85 for breakfast and $4.35 for lunch.

It is important to remember that if you or your child see or hear something concerning, please report it to your school's principal. It can be the first step to saving a situation from becoming dangerous. Again, "See Something, Say Something!"