BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
Top Photo: From left are Theatre Department Director Brady Walker, Elmore County District 4 Commissioner Bart Mercer and SEHS Principal Ewell Fuller.
Recent donations to programs at Stanhope Elmore High School from Elmore County Commissioner Bart Mercer, and many more, will go a long way for funding special projects.
Each Elmore County Commissioner has an allotment for funding special projects within the district they serve. Mercer is the Commissioner for District 4.
“I know the Elmore County Board of Education does a great job funding schools,” Mercer said. “But as Commissioners we have a great opportunity to fund smaller, special projects that are important to teachers and students.”
Mercer said that these additional funding opportunities can help out projects that would otherwise have to be funded by the teachers personally, the parents of students, or by fundraisers.
“We look at these special projects very carefully, to make sure the money is needed, and will be used properly,” Mercer said. “I try to focus on things that benefit service, students, and first responders. These are taxpayer’s dollars. I just reinvest them back onto those areas in my district where I can. Other commissioners do the same thing.”
Every little bit helps, according to SEHS Principal Ewell Fuller.
“Bart called me about a month ago and asked if there were any special needs. I told him ‘Absolutely,’” Fuller said. “We have an AP Environmental Class that travels in a partnership with Lanark, Alabama Wildlife Federation. We are trying to make it cost friendly to the parents of these students.
“He also inquired about the Theatre program with our teacher Brady Walker. I told him about an event coming up this year that would involve a theatre event for our Super Kids, those kids with special needs. He was all about that. And Bart really likes to do a balance between extra curricular programs and academics. Our football program had a need for a high rise tower with video equipment in the end zone. We have never asked Bart Mercer for something that he did not give. It means the world to us.”
Mercer, most recently, used his district funds to write checks to SEHS programs for a total of $4,600.
“It isn’t a huge amount of money, but it is something that as a County Commissioner, we have the ability to do thanks to the allotment each year for special projects,” Mercer said. “Again, these aren’t donations come from us, but from taxpayer money. We just facilitate the donation.”
Fuller said the school has received numerous other donations from businesses and individuals in the past year that have surpassed his highest expectations. “All we have to do is put a need out there, and they come running. The support for SEHS from the community leaders, businesses, individuals and officials is truly overwhelming. I just have never seen anything like it in my career. We are so incredibly blessed.”
Fuller said another unique aspect is Mercer and others not only supports special projects, but attends regular events at the school.
“Bart is constantly here at the school asking what we need. He has a servant’s heart, no doubt. We are fortunate to have him,” Fuller said. “I could say the same thing for our school board members Wendell Saxon and Col. Dale Bain. They are here, they are involved, and they love the students. I just cannot say enough about how important they are to our program.”
Other recent donations from the community include Family Home Furnishings, Don Duncan Tire and Auto, and River Region Vision.
“I love this school, I love this community and I am so thankful for all of the support,” Fuller said. “We are SE!”
