Words and Image by Jenny Lynn Davis
In a significant move towards enhancing student safety, Curry High School received a $20,000 grant on Monday, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Cawaco Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Council and the Alabama Legislature. The funds were utilized to construct an enclosure around the Curry High School lunchroom to increase students’ safety as they move between classes and the lunchroom.
Curry High School Principal Eric Woodley explained to presentation attendees that, before the construction of the safety wall, two entry doors that must remain unlocked during the school’s lunch period were exposed to the outside, making it difficult for school personnel to monitor who was coming in and out of the school. The new construction creates a separation from the school’s exterior, so there is a significantly reduced chance of unpermitted arrivals and departures. The construction also creates an opportunity for students to enjoy their lunch in the school’s courtyard.
Cawaco Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that supports educational and community development projects in Central Alabama. Cawaco RC&D serves Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby, and Walker Counties.
During the grant presentation, Paul Housel, North Alabama Operations Manager at The Cosby Company, representing Alabama RC&D Councils, thanked Senator Greg Reed and Representative Matt Woods for their role in ensuring groups like Cawaco can make grants like this project.
“I appreciate Cawaco and what they do,” said Reed. “I learned about RC&D early in my legislative career and recognized that if more money from the legislature went into RC&D programs, more money could come to projects in our community.”
Reed continued, “We’ve seen some great outcomes of dollars being used in our schools and in other important places in our communities. The students in Walker County deserve everything we can get for them, and we have wise folks to decide where those resources are going.”
“To our friends with Cawaco, I am very thankful for the response you have provided to the projects we’ve called you on, because you have not let us down in any way,” said Woods. “The community loves this school, but they love the students even more, so I know the community will appreciate this.” WL
