Letter from Pelham Schools Superintendent, Dr. Scott Coefield

Dr. Scott Coefield

After investing much time in classroom preparations and professional development over the summer, our teachers and staff were thrilled to greet the students and kick off the new school year on August 11. Teachers at all levels have jumped right in to provide our students with rigorous coursework and innovative learning opportunities. From Project Lead the Way and Laying the Foundation to Advanced Placement courses and Google Classrooms, our teachers are implementing strategies and techniques that take learning to the next level and engaging our students in new and exciting ways.  

The integration of new technology in our schools provides our students with skills and tools for 21st century learning, and our technology initiative is an ongoing focus for our system. We’ve recently added over 900 more Chromebooks for student use in our classrooms, along with other devices that support student learning such as interactive projectors, improved infrastructure, and more.

Facility improvements at Pelham High School continued through the summer with the completion of new, state of the art classrooms and labs for engineering, chemistry, physics, and biomedical sciences. We’ve also added a fully equipped special needs classroom and made enhancements in the cafeteria with updated furniture and new seating areas. In addition, our facilities for football, soccer, and track & field were enhanced with new turf in the stadium, lined for both football and soccer use, and significant upgrades to the track & field facilities and fieldhouse.  As construction winds down at Pelham Ridge Elementary, we are gearing up our preparations for the transition of students to the new building. After our fall break, students zoned for Pelham Ridge will attend the new school beginning on October 17.

We’re energized by all of the positive changes in our schools, and we’re putting great emphasis on the actions that will take our schools, staff, and students to the next level. This summer, we assembled a committee representing administrators, teachers, students, parents, and members of the board of education and city council to establish a mission statement that reflects the essence of our purpose. Our workgroup spent much time in discussion about our goals, beliefs, and commitments to arrive at a statement that is easy to remember and gets to the heart of what we aim to do. The mission of Pelham City Schools is to collaborate with parents and community to inspire and empower students to achieve personal success. You’ll see the key words in the statement are INSPIRE, EMPOWER, and ACHIEVE. These three simple words are powerful and apply to all of us. When we all (teachers, students, parents, community) work together to put these words into action each and every day, we will accomplish and exceed our goals. 

We encourage you to get involved in the many opportunities to visit our schools and support our students. From open houses and board of education meetings to daily dinner at Pelham High School and sporting events, we all benefit from the support and involvement of our community. You can also visit PelhamCitySchools.org to sign up for our weekly eNewsletter, view our 2016-17 school calendar, and more. Also, follow us on Facebook (PelhamCitySchoolsAL) and Twitter (@PelhamSchools) for the latest school news.

We look forward to a great school year and all we will accomplish together as we embrace our mission to inspire, empower, and achieve.

Dr. Scott Coefield

Superintendent

Pelham City Schools

Letter from City Council Member, Place 5, Karyl Rice

Karyl Rice, Pelham City Council, Place 5

It is campaign season again for our country and for our city.  Campaigns are not usually fun for the candidates or the public, but they have taken on a different nature in recent years and have become much more unpleasant and divisive than necessary. The proliferation of social media has definitely contributed to the related issues. Rumors and misleading information have become the norm and do nothing but damage a community. I have been thinking a great deal lately about the real needs of our city and the fact that we have to stop letting things like this tear us apart. We have to work together and focus on our real objectives in order to have the opportunity to reach our full potential.

As you probably read, Mayor Gary Waters, as well as Councilmembers Rick Hayes, Beth McMillan and Maurice Mercer, were all recently re-elected.  Congratulations are in order for these four. There will be runoffs for places 2 and 5 on October 4th. Thank you to all who voted, but our voter turnout was at a historically low level, so PLEASE remember to vote in the October runoffs.

Mayor Waters, Council President Hayes and I attended the Pelham City Schools in-service meeting to kick off the 2016-2017 school year. We were treated to a rousing performance by the PHS band and dance team to set the mood. We were then invited to participate with the BOE members in honoring all Pelham City School employees who have given 25 years or more in service to our children. We were privileged to welcome each recipient to the stage as their name was called to receive an award.  Following the award ceremony, Superintendent Coefield and members of the Central Office staff gave interesting and sometimes very entertaining reports of preparations for the new school year.  We’re all eager to see what this 3rd year of operation for PCS brings. Thank you to all the outstanding teachers and support personnel who are devoted to the education of Pelham’s children!

Please be careful as you travel on Bearden Road since the sidewalk construction project is now underway. The first part of the project involved the relocation of utilities to allow for the actual construction of the sidewalk, which is just getting underway.  

Another project that will affect traffic is the CSX crossover rail line. Once construction begins, Lee Street will be closed to through traffic for probably close to one month, but please be patient because this project, when completed, will significantly reduce the number of trains that block railroad crossings in that area. It will also help with some localized flooding issues. 

As many of you know, the Highway 261 Flood Mitigation Project had been delayed awaiting final approval from FEMA. However, FEMA has now approved this project and the related additional funding, so the remainder of the work will begin soon.

We are also very pleased to announce that ALDOT just approved $3 million for the right-of-way acquisition needed for Phase 1 of the Highway 261 Widening Project. This is a major first step for this very important project. Along the same lines, the engineering is in progress related to the additional westbound lane that has been approved for Highway 52 between I-65 and Highway 31.  

Establishing the Commercial Development Authority (CDA) was a key step in a plan for redeveloping and revitalizing areas along Pelham Parkway.  The CDA has purchased two aging strip malls which will be torn down to make way for new development.  Members of the CDA are seeking new businesses, especially restaurants, to augment those already established here.  Our growing population and strong increase in home construction are certainly helping in the recruitment of new businesses.  You might have seen the recent proposal that the city received for an upscale development that would be adjacent to and complementary to the Summer Classics headquarters and showroom.  We also anticipate being able to announce the opening of a new restaurant in Pelham very soon, and negotiations are underway for several others.

Pelham Park Middle School is the beginning of the development of our Pelham City Center.  When completed, the city center will include the school, the current park facilities, a recreation center, public library, outdoor basketball and sand volleyball courts, an inclusive playground, trails & greenways, and a dog park.

Plans for the new library are being developed by an architect in collaboration with our librarian, Mary Campbell. The recreation center and library will be located near the middle school and can be used by the teachers and students for school purposes.  The recreation center will have an indoor track which will provide a climate-controlled venue for walking or jogging regardless of how HOT or COLD or WET it may be outside. There will also be a double gym, an exercise area with equipment, a dance room, a spinning room, a large multipurpose room and a meeting room.

Good luck to Pelham’s own Miss Alabama, Hayley Barber, as she competes for the title of Miss America this month. As this goes to press, we are all rooting for her. Good luck Hayley, we are all so proud of you! 

There is certainly A LOT HAPPENING IN PELHAM!  Events at the Pelham Civic Complex & Ice Arena, the Racquet Club, Ballantrae Golf Club, Oak Mountain State Park and the Amphitheatre are enough to keep one very busy. There’s always something going on at our schools whether it is a sporting event, a play or concert, or even Open House! I hope you will take an interest in what Pelham has to offer and truly enjoy Living in Pelham!

I have served on the city council for 32 years. It hasn’t always been an easy job, but it has been more interesting than I can ever explain. I have seen the city grow and develop over the years and am very proud of the role that I have been able to play in this growth. Some people have suggested that it is time for me to retire, and I understand why some people who do not really know me or understand my role on the council might feel this way, but I remain committed to this community that I love so much. We are headed toward new heights because of the people who live, work, and play right here in Pelham. You make this city great, and the opportunities in front of us are truly amazing!

May God Continue to Bless Us All,

Karyl Rice

Mayor's letter, Fall 2016

Mayor Gary Waters

Greetings,

The election held on August 23rd has established who will serve as your Mayor for the next four years. Three council positions – Place 1, Place 3 and Place 4 have also been determined.  The Place 2 and Place 5 races will be settled in a run-off election to be held on October the 4th.  As with the primary election, the run-off election will take place at the Pelham Civic Complex.

Where I am pleased and honored to serve as your Mayor for another term, I am sorely disappointed with the voter turnout for this election. 18.7 per cent voter turnout tells me we are not nurturing the form of government we have been blessed with, one that has come at a high price.

The Ancient Greeks invented Democracy. The Romans took Democracy to the next level by adding the Republic form of government where the electorate names their representatives. Our Founding Fathers perfected the notion of the Democratic Republic by infusing the idea of personal Freedom and Liberty. The Greek and Romans passed into history. Is our form of government destined to suffer the same fate? These abysmal voting numbers suggest it is possible.

Yes, I suppose we all have ample reasons to be puked out with politics at all levels. But let’s not give up on our last best chance for self-determination.  Voting is more than a right; it is an obligation.  OK, I’m off the stump.  Be well. I’ll see you around town.