Academic growth, significant capital investments highlight Franklin County State of the Schools presentations

On a day when both Russellville City Schools and Franklin County Schools received some impressive scores on the Alabama State Department of Education’s annual State Report Card, both Superintendents Tim Guinn and Greg Hamilton had plenty of good news to share at the annual Franklin County State of the Schools.

The annual event, sponsored by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, sees superintendents from the two local systems and the Northwest Shoals Community College President present updates on the status of their schools.

This year’s State of the Schools, held November 13th at the Tharptown High School gymnasium, also featured recognition for the outstanding employees of the year at  each school and an update on host Tharptown High School from its principal Dr. Tyler Berryman.

Franklin County Schools has a 2025 enrollment of 3,390, a decrease of 107 students from last year, but it’s a number that still pushes the system’s facilities to the limit, Hamilton said.

The system has 68 daily bus routes, and six midday routes that transport students to the Franklin County Career Technical Center, where 439 students are enrolled this year. In the previous school year, students earned 243 hours of college credit.

“Our Career Tech Center is doing outstanding,” Hamilton said, “and it’s a vital part of our school system.”

Franklin County Schools’ FY25-26 budget is $52 million, an increase of $3 million from last year, but a decrease from the two previous years where the system received additional funding as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The system has invested more than $22 million over the previous eight years in capital projects, including projects at every campus. Ongoing capital projects include the administration building at Red Bay High School and installation of turf on the Belgreen, Tharptown and Vina softball fields.

Hamilton gave an update on the system’s Section 16 land in Fayette and Walker Counties that was the subject of a statewide amendment last year. That property includes lucrative land at the intersection of Alabama 13 and the new Interstate 22.

Passage of last year’s amendment meant ownership and management of the property was transferred to the Franklin County Board of Education. 

But Hamilton said the board has filed a lawsuit against the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources after its Commissioner, which manages mineral and timber rights on Section 16 lands. 

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has resisted transfer of the land since the amendment passed Hamilton said.

“We still do not have title because the Department of Conservation is playing Monday morning quarterback,” Hamilton said. “They have now seen what we have in that land and we have a pending lawsuit against the department.”

As for the system’s overall State Report Card grade of 88, and an ‘A’ grade for five of its eight schools, Hamilton said it was the result of the dedication of administrators, faculty, staff and students on each campus. 

Russellville City Schools scored above the state average in 2025 mastery standards on Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program exam scores in seven of the eight grades it measures, second through eighth grades.

A score of Level 3 or higher indicates a student is proficient in subjects including English Language Arts, math and science.

Russellville City Schools earned a lofty 93 overall grade on the 2024-25 State Report Card, the third consecutive year that score falls in the ‘A’ grade range and a three point improvement from last year’s 90.

Russellville City Schools has 548 students enrolled in dual enrollment courses with Northwest Shoals Community College. That represents more than 610 courses and 1,800 college credit hours.

Student participation in the Career Technical Education Program continues to increase, with 87% of all students taking at least one CTE course.

An ongoing renovation of the Career Technical Education Center will add four new classrooms, renovation of shop areas and enhanced classroom spaces for 11 CTE programs.

The system received one of only a handful of Attorney General Safe Schools Awards last year, recognizing it as one of Alabama’s safest public school systems.

RCS’s $4.9 million reserve fund represents nearly twice the state’s required one-month reserve operating fund, which averages between $2.5-$2.7 million, Guinn said,

“The state of Russellville City Schools is strong thanks to a resilient and dedicated faculty and staff and the continued support of our community and students,” Guinn said.

Dr. Jeff Goodwin, Northwest Shoals Community College President, updated progress on the $30 million renovation and construction project at NWSCC’s Phil Campbell campus.

“The campus is still not ready. The interior demolition is complete, mechanical/electrical work is ongoing, the new volleyball floor in the gym has been installed and ravine stabilization behind the gym is nearly complete,” Goodwin said. 

He expressed his appreciation to Rep. Jamie Kiel (R-Russellville) for his support of the $30 million makeover.

“Rep. Kiel has been a huge advocate for Franklin County and for  our Phil Campbell campus the entire time he’s been in office. We could not have done this without his support,” Goodwin said.

With three new sports underway this fall (volleyball, women’s flag football and men’s and women’s golf), that brings the total to six sports that have returned to Northwest Shoals.

Outstanding Employee of the Year Awards were presented to the following employees:

Franklin County Schools:
—Karen Jones, Belgreen High School.

—Elisha Mansell, East Franklin Junior High School.

—Trisha Humphres, Phil Campbell Elementary School.

—Kim Whitten, Phil Campbell High School.

—Rhonda Scott, Red Bay Elementary School.

—Jarod Massey, Red Bay High School.

—Amy Smith, Tharptown Elementary School.

—Hulon Heath, Tharptown High School.

—Bryna Lawler, Vina High School.

—Melissa McHenry, Franklin County Career Technical Center.

—Carla Knight, Franklin County Schools Central Office.

Russellville City Schools:
—Leslie DeLeon Rivera, West Elementary School.

—Dana Crummie, Russellville Elementary School.

—Dennis Tackett, Russellville Middle School.

—Kim Ergle, Russellville High School.

—Donnie Nichols, RCS Career and Technical Education.

Northwest Shoals Community College:
—Mandy Winstead, NWSCC Phil Campbell campus.