Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Nick Rizzo
Lupton Junior High School’s library has a fresh new look thanks to a $20,000 grant from Cawaco Resource Conservation and Development Council, along with additional support from the school and the Walker County Board of Education.
The recently completed renovation transformed a space that had not been updated since 1979 into a more functional and inviting hub for students and staff.
School leaders, elected officials, and representatives from Cawaco gathered at Lupton on March 16 to celebrate the project and the partnerships that made it possible.
According to Principal Corey Shubert, the library had long been due for improvement, still containing many of its original features from when that section of the school was first added. He said the renovation ultimately totaled about $62,000, with the grant helping cover new shelving, chairs, and tables, while the Walker County Board of Education assisted with new windows and flooring.
The library serves multiple purposes, functioning as a place for students to read and learn, a meeting space for faculty and staff, a media center with computers and resources, and the home of the school’s Blue Devil News Network. Each morning, student-produced announcements and character education segments are shared with classrooms from the library’s media setup.
Shubert said maintaining a strong library space remains a priority for the school, especially at a time when educators are increasingly aware of the impact of screen time on students. He noted that Lupton works intentionally to limit students’ screen time and wants to keep books and in-person reading at the center of learning. At the same time, the school has embraced the media side of modern education through resources such as a green-screen room and live-streaming equipment for school news and events.
Sen. Matt Woods (R – Jasper) praised the renovation and said the library was already clearly a well-used space when he first toured the school several years ago. He said it was evident then that the room was behind the times, making the need for updates clear. Woods also commended the school community for its investment in the project and thanked Cawaco for helping fill key funding gaps to address local needs in Walker County.
Rep. Greg Barnes (R – Jasper) echoed that support, telling school leaders they would continue working to help secure funding for projects like this in the future.
Paul Housel, who spoke on behalf of Cawaco RC&D, said grants like the one awarded to Lupton are made possible through appropriations from the Alabama Legislature and are directed toward projects with strong educational and community value. WL
