News & Announcements
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- ADRS Parent Night
- Immediate Opportunities for Bus Drivers & Bus Aides
- Student-Parent Information Guide & Code of Conduct
- Child Find
- Hat Day for United Way
- Application Period Now Open for TCSS U 2023-2024
- TCSS Leaders Present "What About the Adults in the Building?" at Model Schools Conference
- TCSS Administrator Discusses "The Missing Pieces" at Model Schools Conference
- Local Businesses Invited to Join Us for August 7 Back-to-School Celebration
- Weather Message for Wednesday, June 14, 2023
- Immediate Opportunities for Bus Drivers & Bus Aides
- Learn More About Substitute Opportunities with TCSS
- TCSS 2023 Summer Meals Program
- Photo Gallery: Brookwood High Graduation 2023
- Photo Gallery: Hillcrest High Graduation 2023
- Photo Gallery: Holt High Graduation 2023
- Photo Gallery: Lloyd Wood Education Center Graduation 2023
- Photo Gallery: Northside High Graduation 2023
- Photo Gallery: Sipsey Valley High Graduation 2023
- Photo Gallery: Tuscaloosa County High Graduation 2023
- Photo Gallery: Retirement Celebration 2023
- Photo Gallery: Regional Signing Day
- Survey for Families of TCSS 7th & 8th Grade Students
- Photo Gallery: Youth Mental Health Night 2023
- Photo Gallery: Huntington Place 40th Birthday Bash
- Purchase a T-Shirt for TCSS Mental Health Awareness 2023
- End-of-Year iPad Collection
- 100 Years of Vance Elementary
- Brookwood High FFA Plant Sale 2023
- Hillcrest High Students Rise Against Hunger
- Health Science Partnership Between HPES & TCHS
- Parent Teacher Leadership Academy 2023
- Photo Gallery: Spring Games 2023
- Holt Studio 26 Makes Formal Wear Accessible & Available to Students
- Read Across America 2023
- Facebook No Longer Accessible on Student Devices Beginning March 10
- Normal Operations Planned for Friday, March 2, 2023
- Pre-Kindergarten Pre-Registration Deadline Is Friday, March 3
- Early Dismissal for Thursday, February 16, 2023
- Message to Our TCSS Community - February 10, 2023
- Currently Unable to Receive Inbound Phone Calls to Schools & Offices
- Proposed Improvements for TCSS Schools
- Normal Operations to Resume at Collins-Riverside Thursday, January 26
- Photo Gallery: 2023 Educator Recognition Awards
- Normal Operations Have Resumed Following Tornado Warning
- Normal Operations Planned for All TCSS Schools & Offices for Thursday, January 12, 2023
- Extracurricular Activities Canceled for Tuesday, January 3, 2023
- 2023-2024 TCSS Academic Calendar Approved
- Follow Up Regarding Investigation at Hillcrest High - December 13, 2022
- Update on Law Enforcement Investigation - Tuesday, December 13
- Technology Outage Affecting Brookwood Middle
- Additional Law Enforcement Present Due to Investigation Near Schools
- Technology Outage Affecting Brookwood Middle & Vance Elementary
- Early Dismissal for Northside Area Schools for Monday, December 5, 2022
- Extended Day and All Afterschool Activities Canceled for Tuesday, November 29, 2022
- Commission Sets February 14 Vote on Millage Rate for Schools
- Photo Gallery: Veterans Day 2022
- Early Dismissal for Tuesday, October 25, 2022
- FY2023 Budget Hearings
- Application Period Now Open for TCSS U 2022-2023
- Photo Gallery: Welcome Back Students!
- Brookwood Middle Named A+ CollegeReady School of Excellence
- Updates on School Meals for 2022-2023 School Year
- From the Office of the Superintendent - July 1, 2022
- From the Office of the Superintendent - June 30, 2022
- Aspiring Administrators Academy Graduates - Spring 2022
- Thank You, TCSS Transportation Team!
- Tuscaloosa Education Foundation Scholars Recognition Event
- Message to Hillcrest High Families - May 25, 2022
- Message from the Office of the Superintendent - May 25, 2022
- Brookwood High School 2022 Graduation Ceremony
- Northside High School 2022 Graduation Ceremony
- Sipsey Valley High School Class of 2022 Graduation Ceremony
- Tuscaloosa County High School 2022 Graduation Ceremony
- Holt High School 2022 Graduation Ceremony
- 2022 TCSS Summer Meals Program
- Apply for Career Technical Summer Exploratory Camp
- Hillcrest High School 2022 Graduation Ceremony
- West AlabamaWorks Signing Day Celebrates Students' Apprenticeship & Career Opportunities
- Thank You, School Nurses!
- Hillcrest High Named CLAS Banner School
- Together for Mental Health
- Immediate Opportunities for Bus Drivers & Bus Aides
- Shelton State Reminds Class of 2022: "You Are In!"
- Celebrating Career Opportunities for Our Graduates
- Meet Our TCSS School Librarians
- TCSS Students Recognized by 2022 Bryant-Jordan Scholarship Program
- TCSS Principals Complete Pre-K-3 Leadership Academy
- Thank You, Assistant Principals!
- No After School Extended Day for March 30, 2022
- Crestmont Elementary Named 2022 Model School by the International Center for Leadership in Education
- 2022-2023 Kindergarten Registration
- Early Dismissal for Tuesday, March 22, 2022
- Monitoring the Weather for Tuesday, March 22, 2022
- Read Across America 2022
- Hillcrest High Named 2021 CLAS School of Distinction
- TCHS Seniors Named 2022 National Merit Scholarship Finalists
- Masks No Longer Required on School Buses
- Application Period for District 2 Board of Education Member
- Early Dismissal for Thursday, February 17, 2022
- 2022 TCSS Educator Recognition Awards
- Preparing Future TCSS Leaders
- National School Counseling Week 2022
- 2022 TCSS High School Graduation Dates
- 2022-2023 TCSS Academic Calendar Approved
- Echols Middle School Closed Friday, January 28, 2022
- Schools Closed for Friday, January 21, 2022
- Schools Closed for Thursday, January 20, 2022
- Schools Closed for Wednesday, January 19, 2022
- January 17, 2022: Message from the Office of the Superintendent
- Six Schools Closed for Tuesday, January 18, 2022
- Cottondale, Flatwoods, Holt Elementary Schools Closed January 14, 2022
- Leading the Way for Modern Manufacturing Education in Alabama
- Nick's Kids Teacher Excellence Awards
- Provide Feedback on Draft Version of TCSS 2022-2023 Academic Calendar
- Delayed Start Time for Monday, January 3, 2022
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2021 - News & Announcements
- 2021-2022 TCSS Academic Calendar Approved
- Application Period Open Until January 7 for District 7 Board of Education Seat
- TCSS to Implement A/B Schedule for On-Campus Students January 5 - 8, 2021
- TCSS to Return to Five-Day On-Campus Schedule Monday, January 11
- TCSS to Implement Three-Hour Delay Monday, January 11, 2021
- Pre-Kindergarten Pre-Registration Deadline Is Monday, March 8
- TCSS to Implement Two-Hour Delay Tuesday, January 12, 2021
- TCSS Seeks Candidates for Position of Chief School Financial Officer
- January 15, 2021: Data Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- Board to Hold Interviews January 21 for District 7 Board of Education Seat
- Celebrating 50 Years of Service to TCSS & Our Students
- Commission Recognizes TCSS Career Technical Education Programs
- Brookwood Middle Named 2021 State School of Character
- 2021 High School Graduation Dates Set
- January 30, 2021: Data Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- Thank You, Board Members!
- TCSS Adds New Digital Library Resource, SORA
- TCSS Adds Mental Health Services Coordinator
- TCSS High Schools to Move to Block Schedule for 2021-2022 School Year
- Tuesday, March 9: ACT for 11th Graders, E-Learning Day for 9th, 10th, & 12th Graders
- February 1-5 Is National School Counseling Week
- Mr. Bill Squires Takes Oath of Office as District 7 Board of Education Member
- Neighborhood Bridges Tuscaloosa County Launches Friday, February 12
- February 12, 2021: Data Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- Monitoring the Weather for Monday, February 15
- Schools & Central Office Closed Monday, February 15
- Schools & Central Office Closed Tuesday, February 16
- Regular Operations to Resume Wednesday, February 17
- TCHS Celebrates Mars Rover Landing & Classmate's Role in Historic Event
- 2021 TCSS Educator Recognition Awards
- Planning for the Opening of Northport Intermediate & Reconfiguration of TCHS Feeder Pattern Schools
- Architects & Construction Managers Approved for Construction Projects
- Board Approves Temporary Pay Increase for Substitute Teachers & LPNs
- February 26, 2021: Data Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- TCHS Seniors Recognized Through National Merit Scholarship Program
- Read Across America 2021
- Hillcrest High Named 2020 CLAS Banner School
- Meet the Principal - Mr. Michael Tilford
- Meet Our TCSS Social Work Team
- TCSS Celebrates Our National Board Certified Teachers
- TCSS Named 2021 Innovative District by International Center for Leadership in Education
- March 12, 2021: Data Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- WOW 2.0 Provides Job Interview Opportunities for High School Seniors
- TCSS Child Nutrition Team Serves More Than 2.8 Million Meals Throughout Pandemic
- Thursday, March 25, 2021: TCSS Remote Learning Day
- Myrtlewood Elementary Selected for Alabama's P-3 Program
- Final Design Approved for Road at Northport Elementary & Northport Intermediate
- Board Votes to Move Forward with CSFO Contract Negotiations
- April 5, 2021: Data Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- Davis-Emerson Middle Teacher Selected as Alabama Middle School Science Teacher of the Year
- Brookwood Elementary Student & Teachers Complete Half Marathon with Ainsley's Angels
- Alabama's Safer Apart Order & Masks in Our Schools
- TCSS Appreciates Our Assistant Principals
- Report Safety Concerns Confidentially Through SpeakUp for Safety Tip Line
- "TCSS News & Notes" - Community Newsletter
- 2021-2022 Kindergarten Registration
- April 19, 2021: Data Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- Immediate Opportunities for Bus Drivers & Bus Aides
- Construction Projects Moving Forward Across TCSS
- April 30, 2021: Data Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- View Our Latest "TCSS News & Notes" Newsletter
- Thank You, Principals!
- May Is Mental Health Awareness Month
- Early Dismissal for Tuesday, May 4, 2021
- Flatwoods Teacher Selected Teacher of the Month by National Publication
- TCSS Wears Green in Support of Children's Mental Health Awareness
- Celebrating Our School Lunch Heroes
- Hillcrest High Teacher Named Alabama Teacher of the Year Finalist
- Thank You, Nurses!
- May 17, 2021: Data Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- Graduation 2021 Photo Gallery - Sipsey Valley High
- Graduation 2021 Photo Gallery - Hillcrest High
- Graduation 2021 Photo Gallery - Brookwood High
- Graduation 2021 Photo Gallery - Northside High
- Graduation 2021 Photo Gallery - Holt High
- Graduation 2021 Photo Gallery - Tuscaloosa County High School
- May 27, 2021: Latest Data Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- Career Technical Summer Exploratory Camp
- Crestmont Elementary Named Imagine Nation Beacon School
- Character.org Recognizes Holt Elementary as a Promising Practice School Two Years in a Row
- CATS-TV Wins National Championship
- TCSS Students Receive Awards for Aspirations in Computing
- Assistant Principals Named for Northport Intermediate & Vance Elementary
- Meet the New Principals - Myrtlewood Elementary, Holt High, Northport Intermediate
- 2021-2022 - Back-to-School Information
- TCSS Takes the Stage at 2021 Model Schools Conference
- Administrators Build Community & Focus on Team Work Ahead of New School Year
- A Message of Hope: Institute Day 2021
- TCSS Educators Named to UA College of Education Top Alumni Under 40
- TCSS Schools Closed Monday, August 30, 2021
- Applications Now Accepted for TCSS U, Program Begins September 28
- September 9, 2021: Reminders & Updates for TCSS Families
- Celebrating the Opening of Northport Intermediate School
- Hillcrest High School Counseling Department Named Alabama School Counseling Program of Distinction
- Message from the Superintendent
- TCHS Seniors Named Seminfinalists in 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program
- TCSS Career Technical Educator Director Selected as 2021 AlabamaWorks Innovator
- October 6, 2021: E-Learning Day for Grades 9 & 11
- Honoring Mr. Denniz Alvarez for His Service to Sipsey Valley
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2020 - News & Announcements
- October Is National School Principal Month
- TCSS Superintendent and CSFO Announce Retirements
- Pre-K Registration Information for 2020-2021 School Year
- TCSS Seniors Invited to District-Wide FAFSA Night Tuesday, October 26
- Notice of Public Meeting - Board of Education Voting Districts
- TCSS 2020 Educator Recognition Award Recipients
- National School Counseling Week 2020
- Dedication of the James E. Barnett Campus at Northport Intermediate School
- Taylorville Primary Book Character Pumpkin Contest
- TCSS Schools Chosen as 2020 State Schools of Character
- 2020-2021 Kindergarten Registration
- Photo Gallery: Red Ribbon Week & Fall Celebrations
- Congratulations TCSS U Graduates!
- Schools Show Support for the Fight Against Breast Cancer
- Class of 2020 Graduation Celebrations on WVUA 23
- 2020 - 2021 Transportation Information
- TCSS Students & Educators Stand Against Bullying
- CATS-TV & Northport Career Tech Annex Host TCSS/TCS Basketball Media Day
- Holt Elementary Selected as 2020 Promising Practice School
- Congratulations to the Class of 2020!
- Provide Input on Future TCSS Academic Calendars
- Veterans Day 2021
- Alabama College Application Week 2020
- December 19, 2020: Data Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- Pre-K Classes Provide Career Technical Education Opportunities at Brookwood High
- Fifth Graders Experience Career Technical Education Opportunities
- Honors for TCHS Wind Ensemble
- Board Approves Revised 2020-2021 Academic Calendar
- Warm Welcomes
- TCSS Alums & Educators Participate in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
- Two TCSS Schools Chosen as 2020 National Schools of Character
- December 4, 2020: Latest Data Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- Photo Gallery: December Celebrations
- School Board Member Recognition Month
- Fighting the Flu
- TCSS Student Chosen as Finalist in NASA Contest
- February Is Career Technical Education Month
- TCSS Students Spread Kindness
- Information on Search for TCSS Superintendent and Chief School Financial Officer
- Superintendent & CSFO Update
- TCHS Junior Names NASA's Mars Helicopter
- November 20: Data Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- Meet Our Education Heroes
- TCSS CSFO Announces Upcoming Retirement
- Big Sandy Named First "Model PLC at Work" School in Alabama
- Thank You, Dr. Davie! - Photo Gallery
- New Principal Named for Lake View Elementary
- Board Selects Candidates to Fill Superintendent and CSFO Positions
- A Message to Our TCSS Community & Resources for Families
- Preparing for Our Return to School
- Leaders Are Readers
- Welcome Dr. Johnson!
- Celebrating Service to Our Students - Photo Gallery
- Photo Gallery: Welcome Back to School!
- Storm Shelter Information
- TCSS Reads Across America!
- Continuous Improvement Planning
- September 17: An Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- Breakfast and Lunch Available to All TCSS Students, at No Cost to Families
- An Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- TCHS Student Named National Merit Semifinalist
- TCSS to Implement Edgenuity Online Learning Solution for Remote Learners
- Waiver Requested for February 11 Weather Day
- October 15: An Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- CRMS Tigers Celebrate Championship Win & Undefeated Season
- TCHS Wind Ensemble Receives National Recognition
- Big Sandy Receives Visit from National Organization to Mark Achievement
- Schools Receive Tuscaloosa Education Foundation Grants for Character Education
- TCSS E-Learning Day Set for Friday, October 16
- October 1: An Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- TCSS Promotes BRAVE Bullying Prevention Initiative
- Celebrating Homecoming Traditions
- TCSS Goes Blue for World Day of Bullying Prevention
- Second Nine Weeks: Important Upcoming Dates
- Unity Day 2020 - Photo Gallery
- October 26: An Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- TCSS Receives $389,000 Grant for Career Technical Education
- Celebrating Decades of Service to Our Schools
- TCSS Celebrates Red Ribbon Week
- Photo Gallery: Vocabulary Parade
- November 10: Data Update on COVID-19 & Our Schools
- November 12: Information Regarding COVID-19 & Our Schools
- TEF, Jalapeno's, & TCSS Celebrate Our Education Heroes
- November 17: Update from the Office of the Superintendent
- Provide Feedback on Proposed 2021-2022 TCSS Academic Calendar
- Choose Your Learning Option for Third Nine Weeks
- December 3: Update from the Office of the Superintendent
- Photo Gallery - Celebrating the Holiday Season
- TCSS Educators Receive Tuscaloosa Education Foundation Grants
- Statement on the Passing of Board of Education Member Mr. Bill Copeland
- Board of Education Approves Extraordinary Compensation for Employees
- ADPH Updates Guidelines for Schools, Regarding Quarantine Period
- TCSS Teachers Receive Nick's Kids Teacher Excellence Awards
- Sipsey Valley Celebrates Addition of Athletics Facilities
- Join Our Team as a Substitute
- Board Members Begin New Terms in Office
- TCSS to Shift to A/B Schedule Beginning Monday, December 14
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2019 - News & Announcements
- Honors for Holt High Carpentry
- Nick's Kids Teacher Excellence Awards
- TCSS Celebrates Alabama's Bicentennial
- TCSS Teachers Achieve National Board Certification
- Holiday Book Drive
- 2020-2021 TCSS Academic Calendar Approved
- TCSS Students Honor Veterans
- Commission Provides Funding for Projects at Schools
- TCSS High School Students Participate in Reality Check
- Pumpkins Become Book Characters
- May 2020 Graduation Ceremonies Announced
- Alabama Education Report Card
- TCSS Teams Up Against Bullying on Friday, October 18
- TCSS Launches BRAVE Bullying Prevention Program
- TCSS Launching New Community Engagement Program
- TCSS Schools Selected as Bicentennial Schools of Excellence
- TEF Celebrates Superintendents & Supporters of Education
- Ribbon Cutting & Open House for Sipsey Valley Middle School
- TCSS Teacher on "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?"
- TCSS Names New Administrators
- TCSS Celebrates Alabama Bicentennial
- Tuscaloosa County School System
- 2020 - News & Announcements
- November 12: Information Regarding COVID-19 & Our Schools
November 12: Information for Our TCSS Community on COVID-19 & Our Schools
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November 12, 2020
From the Office of the Superintendent
To Our TCSS Community,
We want share several important items with you regarding our schools and COVID-19.
---TCSS continues to compile and share data regarding COVID-19 and its impact on our schools. As we have been doing since September 3, a new update is posted to our TCSS web site every two weeks. The latest update is available from the home page of our site. The latest update also includes links to all previous COVID-19 updates.
---If there is a need to share a COVID-19 update with an individual school or school community, outside of the regular biweekly system update, TCSS will provide an additional update. For instance, the Hillcrest High and Tuscaloosa County High School communities have recently received additional updates, due to rises in the numbers of confirmed positive cases and students determined to be close contacts of positive cases at those schools.
---The Alabama State Department of Education is now publishing COVID-19 data from school systems across Alabama. While this online dashboard provides an additional source for COVID-19 data, we encourage our TCSS community also to continue referring to the COVID-19 updates we share every two weeks. Our updates provide a much greater level of detail, with respect to what is happening in our school system. It is also important to remember that the state dashboard provides a raw number of total cases. TCSS is the ninth-largest school system in our state, with nearly 19,000 students, and approximately 84 percent of those students attending school on campus. Some school systems in our state have less than a thousand students in an entire system. There also may be differences in how individual school systems collect and report their COVID-19 case data. For many reasons, it is difficult to compare one system against another, when looking at this data. You may have seen news headlines this week stating that TCSS has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the state. One raw number simply does not provide the full context, in a very complex situation. That being said, the rise in COVID-19 cases in our community does have us on alert, and as we published in our November 10 COVID-19 update, your help in reducing the spread is of critical importance.
---We have many schools with a high percentage of students attending on-campus school, with few or no confirmed COVID-19 cases within the school population. We also continue to receive parent/guardian information indicating to us that the majority of student COVID-19 cases are being contracted outside of school. We are encouraged that our social distancing measures and cleaning practices are effective in reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission within our schools.
---Due to ADPH guidelines regarding quarantine, we currently have greater numbers of employee absences. On top of that, some regular substitutes are unavailable due to the COVID-19 situation. We are in great need of substitute teachers. If you or anyone you know would be a candidate for substitute teaching, this is one of the best ways you could support our schools during this time. Learn more about becoming a substitute in this section of our web site.
---As you may be aware, the COVID-19 situation has recently caused some schools in our state to alter their schedules or shift to remote learning. At this time, we have no plans to shift to remote learning. At any point in this year, if a situation arises that causes us to alter our schedule or shift to remote learning, either at the system level or school level, we would communicate that to our TCSS community as immediately as possible. As we have stated since the beginning of school, it is our goal to keep our schools open for in-person learning.
---When a student is identified as a close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case in our schools, the student and their parent/guardian will receive a letter. There is a statement in the letter that reads:
“If your child tests negative for COVID-19 during their quarantine, and has a release from their medical provider, he/she may return to school if the release clearly states that along with the negative test, the medical provider is aware of the possible exposure and has cleared the student to return to school.”
It is our intention and expectation that students who are determined by our schools to be close contacts of a COVID-19 case will follow Alabama Department of Public Health guidelines and quarantine for 14 days. The statement above references an instance where there may be HIPPA-protected information, between a student and their medical provider, that the school is not aware of, but would allow them to return to school before the 14-day quarantine period ends. An instance such as this may exist, but would be rare. The purpose of the statement in the letter is to let a student and their parent/guardian know that a negative COVID-19 test alone, even accompanied by a doctor’s release, will not allow a student to return to school prior to the end of their quarantine period. The release from the physician must state that the physician is also aware of the possible exposure, and is still clearing them to return to school, before the ADPH-recommended quarantine period has ended. Again, a situation like this should be rare, but TCSS has been advised by the Alabama State Department of Education that our school nurses should accept a physician’s release in this instance. We are also aware that ADPH recently shared a reminder with the medical community, stressing the importance of isolation and quarantine guidelines.
As we move into the holiday season, we ask our TCSS community to please be extremely mindful of the practices health experts say are effective in fighting COVID-19. We also ask you to monitor official TCSS information channels for updated information. As challenging as this situation is, we do believe we will come out of this time stronger and better prepared to overcome adversity.