By Andrew Edwards
Elmore/Autauga News Staff Writer
Editor’s note: If you are a parent or guardian of a student at SEHS this year, please visit the school’s Facebook page under SEHS Mustangs. There are many updates/announcements on the page that you will find valuable.
The 2021-2022 school year is set to begin for Elmore County students Monday, and Stanhope Elmore High School Principal Ewell Fuller is excited to turn the page on the previous, abnormal calendar year.
Fuller addressed parents and students Thursday in the gymnasium at the school’s Open House event. He outlined some of his expectations for the upcoming year – including the way that the school would deal with the coronavirus delta variant. The variant has seen a massive spike across the United States over the past several weeks.
“The masks are optional, that’s what I’ve been told. If you want to wear one, you can wear one. If you don’t, you don’t,” Fuller said. “Hopefully we can keep this entire year normal, but we expect to be going full-speed ahead, 110 percent.”
The Elmore County Board of Education will continue to monitor new cases of Covid among students and staff at all schools. In the event of a sharp increase in cases, decisions will be made on a school by school basis, and updates will be shared by the EAN, and Supt. Richard Dennis.
The coronavirus brought a great deal of challenges to school systems all the across our area last year, forcing many to adapt to e-learning, social distancing protocols and in some cases, the closing of schools entirely.
Fuller said he was aware of the questions that have circulated involving the delta variant, and explained that staff, including himself, would continue to disinfect and clean the school on a regular basis.
“We’re going to do our best to tread the waters,” Fuller said.
The green-light to operate under normal circumstances means that SEHS students will be able to experience a regular school year – kind of.
Fuller says that most everything will return to way it was pre-covid, but that students might want to anticipate a few slight changes.
Currently, the Mustang’s lunchroom is undergoing massive renovations, hindering the student’s opportunity to eat in that space. Fuller explained that for the entirety of the first semester, students will be eating lunch in their classroom while those improvements are being completed.
“Each teacher will have a box that they are assigned to, and our cafeteria workers will help to distribute that food to each individual classroom. Parents can place their child’s order the night before,” Fuller said.
The viewing of online grades will also be different. Instead of iNOW, students and parents will use PowerSchool, a move that was decided by the Alabama Board of Education.
“It’ll allow for a more friendly, user-interface experience. Instead of having to click on links that take you to other sites, everything will be able to be done in a central location,” Fuller said.
Aside from the changes and uncertainty surrounding covid, Fuller said that he’s extremely excited about the upcoming year. One of those reasons is athletics events, which will return to 100 percent capacity.
“There were a lot of obstacles and hurdles that we had to overcome last year. This year, to be able to walk out there and see the kids and parents, that one big family type atmosphere, it’s going to be special. I’m not gonna sleep the night before,” Fuller laughed.
Within the confines of the classroom, Fuller said that that happy faces on students will be what brings him the most joy.
“To see the SE family, and to interact with the students, whether it’s in the classroom or in the hallways, is what I’m most excited about. They’re the reason I’m here. I can’t really describe what it was like last year, but it’s going to be great to see the smiles on their faces come next week,” Fuller said.
