This year has proven to be quite the year for schools across Baldwin County, as the opening of the highly anticipated Baldwin Preparatory Academy draws near, Baldwin County throws its hat in the ring for superintendent of the year, Gulf Shores City Schools received statewide accolades and more.

There has been so much growth throughout the past 12 months, it was almost impossible to choose the highlights from Baldwin County's three school systems. Nevertheless, here are Gulf Coast Media's top five education storylines from 2023.

Baldwin Preparatory Academy

Starting off strong, we saw Baldwin County make strides this past year toward the opening of Baldwin Prep, the brand new, state-of-the-art career technology school scheduled to open in August 2024.

Most recently, Gulf Coast Media was given a look inside the construction progress. The school will offer extensive, hands-on experience in everything from automotive engineer repair to cosmetology and barbering. The school is designed to combine academics and on-the-job experiences for students in the career field of their choice.

Applications opened in November 2023, and the district has received over 1,000 applications from interested students across the county. According to Superintendent Eddie Tyler, construction on the $100 million school in Loxley right off Highway 59 is currently on schedule and is expected to be completed in time for the projected
opening.

Baldwin County buses don't have air conditioning

After several parents expressed concern about the lack of air conditioning on Baldwin County Public Schools buses over the summer, the discussion came to a head at the Sept. 21 Board of Education meeting.

After school started in mid-August, temperatures were recorded to be in the mid-90s to low 100s for the first several weeks of school. Chasity Riddick, communications coordinator for the school district, said that while 44 buses have air conditioning, the majority do not.

Riddick said a plan is in place to upgrade air conditioning for all buses, but it is not yet clear as to when that process will be finalized.
Riddick said the cost for air conditioning installation is estimated to be $140,000 for a standard bus and $160,000 for a wheelchair-equipped bus.

Gulf Shores is one of 11 Green Ribbon schools in the nation
In April, the U.S. Department of Education named Gulf Shores City Schools one of 11 school districts across the nation to be awarded the 2023 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School District Sustainability Award, the only school district in the southeastern United States to win the award.

The award recognizes schools, districts and higher education institutions that nurture and promote environmental, health and sustainability education and practices.

Notable projects completed at GSCS that contributed to their selection included a new Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) building at Gulf Shores Elementary School, Gulf Shores High School's Farm-to-Table Program, a partnership with the Center for Ecotourism, including a school visit from Jean-Michel Cousteau, and the Science by the Shore outdoor, place-based science education program.

Additionally, students have access to bicycles throughout the day to support outdoor learning and physical activity.

Eddie Tyler wins District 1 Superintendent of the Year

In August, Baldwin County Public Schools Superintendent Eddie Tyler was announced as the District 1 Superintendent of the Year, going on to compete against eight other superintendents for the statewide accolade.

Nominations for the award were submitted from each of the School Superintendents of Alabama's nine districts, and the state winner is determined based on career achievements and success in advancing public education.

The state winner was more recently announced as Richard Barlow, superintendent of Mountain Brook City Schools in Birmingham.

Orange Beach City Schools does not owe money to the state education fund

In June, Eric Mackey, state superintendent, announced that the county's newest school district does not owe money to the state in connection to the Foundation Program.

The news came almost a year after a June 2022 letter from Mackey that said the school system owed $4.6 million for a shortfall in the state foundation's $10 million match funding program.
Because of their smaller size, the district qualifies for only $7 million in foundation funding, but 10 mills of property tax in the high-dollar resort district equals $11.7 million. That difference resulted in the deficit of $4.6 million the state previously said it was owed from the district.

Mackey also stated that there will be no future financial request from the district.