Community leaders, supporters greet Coosa County students as they head back to school
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Photos courtesy of PTO president Maressa Ware.
Special to the News
With full backpacks and smiles, students headed back to school last Thursday. School staff were not the only ones greeting students and families with smiles, hand shakes and high fives, however.
Thank you to the community members who came out to welcome the students back to school, including the Coosa County Sheriff’s Office, Empowered to Conquer, county commissioners, and school board members.
Coosa County Schools are thankful for being fully staffed, while many school districts across the state struggle with staffing.
Both Central Elementary and Central High School held open house orientations with parents and students last Tuesday, and the high school held an assembly at the close of the school day Friday to reiterate some new board policies and state laws.
Principal Lee shared all the great things going on around campus, such as taking advantage of the no-fee breakfast and lunch, as well as the after-school meal for those staying after school for extracurricular activities.
In addition, Lee highlighted the construction of the band room/community storm shelter and the addition of a peer helpers program, as well as wrestling and fishing teams. She also commended the students that this was the best start ever for a new school year, commenting that the students are being very respectful of school policies and focusing on learning.
Lee reminded students that the law passed by the Alabama Legislature, known as the Focus Act, prohibits electronic devices during the instructional day.
To ensure students are focused on learning during the instructional day, a new board policy regarding electronic devices was implemented for the 2026-2027 school year. Every high school student was issued a locking pouch they are responsible for keeping for the entire school year. When entering school students must lock their electronic devices in the pouch for the school day.
The student can carry the pouch with them, but even if the student stores their electronic device in their backpack or locker, it must be locked in the pouch. At the end of the day, their pouch is unlocked by staff, and students take their devices and assigned pouch home with them.
For the first violation of the policy, the parent may pick up the device the next day. For the second violation of the policy, the student will receive five days of in-school suspension, and the parent may pick up the device after five days. For the third violation of the policy, the student will receive 10 days of in-school suspension, and the parent may pick up the device after 10 days. For the fourth violation of the policy, the parent may pick up the device at the end of the school year.
In addition, Lee explained another act passed by the Alabama Legislature, known as Taylor’s Law. Starting at the age of 13, students will receive points for disciplinary infractions. Those points are reported to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and can delay a student’s privilege to get a driver’s permit, driver’s license and other licenses.
In-school suspensions are one point per day, and out-of-school suspensions are two points per day, but with a grace period to correct behavior before points start accumulating. Expulsions result in 20 points.
Each point equals a delay of one week in obtaining a license. There are also provisions in the law for students to reduce points they accumulated as a reward for exercising positive behavior for an extended period of time.
The 2026-2027 school year is off to a great start, and we are very excited about the learning and extracurricular opportunities available for our students this year.
