Glass takes the keys from Nolin

School has ribbon cutting

By Michael Butler

"1,485 days - not that I counted," Tallassee City Schools superintendent Dr. Brock Nolin exclaimed. "I've had these in my hands for 24 hours."

As Nolin handed the keys to Tallassee High School principal Drew Glass, it marked the two-plus years from groundbreaking to completion of the new $21 million high school.

The momentous occasion was highlighted by appearances from several dignitaries including Gov. Kay Ivey.

"With over 65,000 feet of campus space, it will be home to state-of-the-art science labs, an auditorium, a fine arts complex and a media center," said Ivey. "Tallassee High School will be entering into a new chapter in education, truly an exciting way to start the 2023 academic year."

State superintendent of education Dr. Eric Mackey thanked Ivey for her part in helping the project come to fruition.

"Gov. Ivey not only said are we going to do a bond isssue to build new schools across the state," said Mackey, "but we're going to do the biggest one in the state's history and invest every single penny of it back into our schools."

Tallassee City Schools Board of Education president Don Bryant emphasized saftety as the primary reason for the investment.

"The cotton mill had built us a fine facility and it had served us for many years, but it was past time," he said. "That mill building was great and beautiful. I hope we have done it justice."

While teachers are prepping their brand new classrooms this week, students will go to work in them next week.

"As fine as the buildings are, they are not the school," said Bryant. "Those folks who have persevered here - having to do school in a construction zone as they have - are the people who are Tallassee High School."

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