By Sherri Blevins
Caldwell Elementary will receive a 14,000 square feet addition to its school. The Jackson County School Board approved the request on February 24, 2022. This $5.5 million project would provide twelve new classrooms to the building.
Scottsboro City Schools Superintendent Amy Childress explained why the addition was necessary. Childress alluded to the learning loss that occurred during the pandemic. Childress stated that students did fall behind even though the teachers continued to teach to their best abilities during the pandemic.
What does learning loss have to do with the need for more space? Childress explained the connection. She said, “In the third grade, there are 50 kids who, if we don’t receive a waiver from the state legislature, those are kids who do not meet the qualifications to be promoted to grade four. So what are the implications for that building and the number of teachers and staff we would need? For many of those students, I think the governor will sign off (the waiver) on a year; that problem will not go away because the governor signs off. We will have to address that learning loss to them as fourth graders… We will need additional space because there will come a point in time where (Gov. Ivey) says no more extensions and no more waivers.”
Before the project, though approved, can move forward, the architect must deliver an exact cost, and the Board must decide how to fund the project.
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