"Angels Among Us Christmas Celebration - An Evening with Casey Thrasher and Friends” to Benefit Lloyd Wood Education Center Programs

"Angels Among Us Christmas Celebration - An Evening with Casey Thrasher and Friends" will be presented Thursday, December 20, at 7 p.m. at the Bama Theatre in Downtown Tuscaloosa. Community members of all ages are welcome at this concert, benefitting Sprayberry Center at Lloyd Wood Education Center, as well as ELEVATE and GRAD Academy, also housed at LWEC. Tickets are available online and in the school office for $10 each.  Tickets will be $15 each at the door on the evening of the concert. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Tickets are available online through Eventbrite.com.

Country music artist Casey Thrasher was featured on season 13 of “American Idol.” He is a graduate of the Tuscaloosa County School System, and his daughter attends Sprayberry Center at Lloyd Wood Education Center.

“We really appreciate Casey and the opportunity to partner with him to create a great event for our students, families and community,” Lloyd Wood Education Center Principal Neal Guy said.

The Tuscaloosa County School System’s Lloyd Wood Education Center serves students in several different programs. The Sprayberry Center at Lloyd Wood Education Center provides special education services in Pre-Kindergarten, the Multiple Abilities Program and the Multiple Needs Program. The GRAD (Growth, Recovery, Achievement, Dedication) Academy Program is intended to lead students who have been unsuccessful in the general student population to a successful school experience. ELEVATE (Elevating Students Above Limits and Beyond Expectations) is a therapeutic school-based program designed to address mental, emotional and behavioral issues that create a barrier to effective learning.

The concert is being made possible through the generous support of our sponsors: RiverFall Credit Union, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Jalapeno’s Mexican Grill, B&H Construction, R&J Excavating & Septic Services, Rama Jama’s, Trinity Plumbing, and Chick-fil-A Northport.

Board Members Begin New Terms in Office

On Monday, November 26, the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education held a swearing-in ceremony for three Board members, beginning new terms in office. Mrs. Portia Jones will continue to represent District 1, Mr. Joe Calvin begins his first term representing District 3, and Mr. Bill Copeland will continue to represent District 7. Board members are elected to a six-year term in office. Mr. Don Presley, District 4 Board Member, will continue to serve in the role of Board President. Mr. Charles Orr, who represents District 5, will continue to serve as Board Vice President.

Pictured, left to right, are Mr. Copeland, Mrs. Jones and Mr. Calvin, as they were sworn in to office. Group photo, left to right: Mr. Charles Orr, Mr. Randy Smalley, Mrs. Portia Jones, Mr. Don Presley, Mr. James Barnett, Mr. Bill Copeland, Mr. Joe Calvin. 

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 New Holt High School Now Open

The new Holt High School opened its doors to students for the first time on Tuesday, November 13. The new school, which is located at 301 44th Court NE, is designed for a capacity of approximately 500 students. It includes a career tech center, administrative and counseling suites, band/choral/fine arts rooms, new technology and much more. The design of the school features purple glass, as a reference to Holt High's school colors. There are exposed steel beams throughout the school, to represent the Holt community's tie to the steel industry. The flooring of the main hall features a river design, to represent the Black Warrior River. The new school replaces the former Holt High School, which was built in 1944.

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TCSS Educators Honored for Helping Students Build Healthy Lifestyles

Congratulations to Northport Elementary Coach Mike Evans and Huntington Place Elementary Principal Andrea Hamner, who were both honored Monday by the Alabama State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. Coach Evans was named Jump Rope for Heart Coordinator of the Year. In 2018, Coach Evans led his students in raising more than $23,000 for the American Heart Association. Mrs. Hamner was named Outstanding Administrator of the Year. In her seven years as principal at HPES, Mrs. Hamner has been an advocate for physical education, supporting programs like HEAL (Healthy Eating, Active Living), the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and Fuel Up to Play 60. TCSS is proud of the efforts of Coach Evans and Mrs. Hamner and all of our educators who help our students build healthy habits. 

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The Tuscaloosa County School System is working to bring you a new, more user-friendly online experience. As you visit our site in the coming weeks, you may notice changes, or find parts of our site undergoing reorganization. We appreciate your patience, as we work to make our site more efficient and enjoyable for you to use.

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2019 Graduation Ceremony Dates Announced

In its regular session on Monday, October 29, 2018, the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education approved dates for May 2019 high school graduation ceremonies. 

Ceremony dates are as follows:

Monday, May 13, 2019, 7:30 p.m.

Northside High School Graduation

Location: Northside High Field

Wednesday, May 15, 2019, 4 p.m.

Holt High School Graduation

Location: Coleman Coliseum

Thursday, May 16, 2019, 4 p.m.

Sipsey Valley High School

Location: Coleman Coliseum

Thursday, May 16, 2019, 7 p.m.

Tuscaloosa County High School Graduation

Location: Coleman Coliseum

Friday, May 17, 2019, 4 p.m.

Hillcrest High School Graduation

Location: Coleman Coliseum

Friday, May 17, 2019, 7 p.m.

Brookwood High School Graduation

Location: Coleman Coliseum

All graduation ceremonies will be held at Coleman Coliseum, with the exception of Northside High. The Northside High senior class voted to hold its ceremony at Northside High Field. The Tuscaloosa County School System appreciates the cooperation and support of The University of Alabama in allowing us to hold graduation ceremonies at Coleman Coliseum.

Among its six high schools, the Tuscaloosa County School System expects to graduate more than 1200 seniors in May 2019.

The last day of school for seniors will be Thursday, May 9, 2019.

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Groundbreaking Ceremony for Sipsey Valley Middle School

Students, faculty, staff and community members celebrated construction of the new Sipsey Valley Middle School at a Groundbreaking Ceremony Thursday, October 18. The new Sipsey Valley Middle School is set for an August 2019 opening date. The school will serve students in grades 5 – 8. Currently, SVMS shares a building with Sipsey Valley High School. Construction of the new school will create additional space for SVHS to use, and eliminate use of portable classrooms at the school. The new SVMS will also create additional space at three feeder elementary schools, by moving fifth graders to the new school.

Architect: Ellis Architects

Construction Manager: Harrison Construction

Northside High Named A+ College Ready School of Excellence

The Tuscaloosa County School System is proud to announce Northside High School has been selected as an A+ College Ready School of Excellence. Northside was chosen as a School of Excellence based on its growth in the number of students passing Advanced Placement exams in the 2017-2018 school year. Northside received the honor at a ceremony Wednesday, October 16 in Decatur. The A+ College Ready organization works to increase the number of Alabama students enrolled in Advanced Placement courses, earning qualifying scores on AP exams, and succeeding in college. Only four schools in the state received the School of Excellence honor this year.

Pictured at Wednesday's ceremony are Northside High Counselor Mrs. Carla Hamner, Northside Principal Mr. Tony Dunn and TCSS Director of Curriculum and Instruction - Northern Region Dr. Amanda Cassity.

Child Find

The Tuscaloosa County Schools are attempting to find and identify individuals from birth to 21 years of age who have disabilities or are suspected to have disabilities and are in need of special education services.

Child Find is a program designed by the State Department of Education and the Department of Rehabilitation Services to help those who are in need of special education services.

Parents of disabled children or anyone knowledgeable of disabled children who may need special education services should contact the Child Find Coordinator in the Special Education Department (205) 342-2756 for ages 3 through 21 or 1-800-543-3098 from birth until 2 years of age.  For more information you may also contact the Alabama Relay Service at 1-800-548-2547.