Dear TCS Families,

This newsletter includes recent news and happenings from across the Tuscaloosa City School District. I encourage you to read below to find out more. Our students are making great progress, as are our staff, and we are incredibly proud of the work that they do.

As a reminder, TCS will be closed to students on April 17 and 18 to allow time for professional development and planning for our staff those days.

Also, this is a busy time of year with state testing going on in our schools. Please make sure your students are well rested, have had a healthy breakfast before school and are present each and every day, but especially right now. Testing is so important to gauge how our students are learning. We are making real progress in our schools, and we need our students present in the building, and ready to learn.

Thank you again for your continued support and for choosing the Tuscaloosa City Schools.

Mike Daria

TCS Superintendent

The Tuscaloosa City School Board voted Tuesday to adjust its reserves in order give the district more flexibility in its long-term planning.

Without the change, TCS would have had to reduce its workforce by approximately 84 positions for the 2025-2026 school year, in order to adjust to a budget shortfall. However, with the approved change in policy, it allows the school district to decrease its workforce by only 60 employees for the next school year, largely through attrition. That would preserve approximately 24 jobs within the school district and allow the district more flexibility as it re-examines its finances year to year, said Superintendent Mike Daria.

“We want to protect student programs and the academic rigor of our instruction first and foremost, and ensure that the academic progress our district has experienced in recent years continues," said Daria. "This change in financial policy will help us do that, while allowing us to reduce fewer positions next school year.”

The approved change will shift the school district from operating with a two-month reserves of $24 million, to a 1.5 month reserve of $18 million instead. According to Alabama state law, school districts are only required to have 1-month operating costs in reserve.

“TCS has been operating with two months of operating costs in reserves for a number of years, but it is not required to do so by the state,” said Jay Duke, the chief school financial officer for TCS. “This would reduce our reserves from $24 million to $18 million, but we would still have more in reserves than is required by the Alabama State Department of Education.”

Tuscaloosa City Schools is planning the reductions in a way to protect the quality of instruction, student programs and the academic rigor available in TCS.

A new program has expanded across 18 schools in TCS to help pair students with special needs with their peers to help sponsor understanding and friendship.

The Best Buddies is a program is a national program that came to TCS in 2023. The Best Buddies at Rock Quarry Elementary School has become a statewide example of success, helping students develop friendships and bonds that look past differences. At Rock Quarry, students in grades 3-5 are paired with students at the school who have intellectual disabilities. The "buddies" have scheduled times during the school day to participate in school activities together and build friendships.

"Everyone is friends and it's really great to play with new people, and make new friends. The people with disabilities are so kind and so funny and it's great just to help them learn," said Rock Quarry student Campbell Baxter. "They are all perfect in their own way, which makes them special."

Ultimately, the goal is for friendships to take root and have a long-term impact, according to the Best Buddies program.

"We want these students, when they graduate college and become the leaders in the community, to have these friendships throughout their life, to be able to advocate for these individuals with disabilities and to also just keep them in back of mind," said Grace Ann Maughan, Director of Mission and Advancement for Best Buddies. "If they're not having a seat at the table, they're bringing that perspective, because it's community changing as a whole. That's Best Buddies end goal."

Best Buddies is an international program that is designed to develop lifelong friendships and partnerships, pairing those friends with intellectual disabilities with friends who fall more into the typical peer category.

"It's mission is to develop lifelong friendships and learning opportunities, and I think that we've learned that we can always learn from those older than us, but it's even more beneficial to learn from our peers, and get as many as opportunities for us to do that," said Kelsey Perry, a teacher at Rock Quarry Elementary.

On Sunday, April 6, Best Buddies Alabama will host a Best Buddies Friendship Walk at the Belk Center in Bower's Park at 2:15 p.m. to celebrate Best Buddies and raise money for the program. For more information visit the website bestbuddies.org/alabama.

To find out more about the Best Buddies program at your child's school, contact the school office.

TCS Families, please remember there will be NO school for students on Thursday, April 17 or Friday, April 18! The schools will be closed for students that at that time as staff come to work for professional development & planning.

The Tuscaloosa City Board of Education celebrated eight educators Tuesday who earned National Board Certification in December 2024—one of the highest honors in the teaching profession. This rigorous certification process recognizes accomplished teaching practice and a deep commitment to student learning and professional growth. National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) demonstrate advanced knowledge and reflective practice in their content areas, and they use that expertise to elevate outcomes for all learners.

Becoming an NBCT is not just a personal milestone—it’s a powerful investment in student success and a commitment to demonstrating accomplished teaching. Decades of research shows that NBCTs have a positive impact on student outcomes. The newest NBCTs, listed below, join a growing network of teacher leaders in TCS:

• Emily Foster (Early Childhood Generalist - Verner Elementary)
• Lauren Hathcock-Campbell (Exceptional Needs Specialist - Central Elementary)
• Caitlynne Keating (Literacy: Reading-Language Arts - Rock Quarry Elementary)
• Rhonda Lane (English Language Arts – Adolescence and Young Adulthood - Northridge High)
• Allison Mudd (Mathematics – Adolescence and Young Adulthood - Central High)
• Hannah Reed (Science – Early Adolescence - Northridge Middle)
• Candice Sparks (Literacy: Reading-Language Arts - Rock Quarry Elementary)
• Alicia Ware (Mathematics – Adolescence and Young Adulthood - Northridge High)

As we celebrate National Board Certified Teachers Week from March 31-April 4, we honor the 60 NBCTs currently serving in TCS and cheer on the 60+ active candidates—more than 30 of whom could certify in 2025.

DID YOU KNOW that TCS now has a new anonymous reporting system called "Say Something" from the Sandy Hook Promise? Reporting is easy, by click here: Say Something Anonymous Reporting - Tuscaloosa City School District

People can help save lives by reporting observed threats, behaviors, actions, and harassment. Here are examples of some of the most common behaviors and incidents to report:

• Acts of violence, with or without weapons
• Verbal or physical abuse, assault or harassment
• Sexual abuse, assault or harassment
• Threats seen on social media
• Bullying, fighting, harassment or intimidating behaviors
• Bragging about weapons or a planned attack
• Depression, anxiety or loss of self-control
• Hopelessness, excessive guilt or worthlessness
• Reckless behavior, theft and petty crimes
• Social isolation or withdrawal
• Substance or alcohol abuse
• Suicide threats, cutting or other self-harm
• Any other troubling situation or behavior

For more information, keep an eye out on the TCS website and social media. The "Say Something" campaign will go live after Spring Break!

The Tuscaloosa City Board of Education congratulated the Paul W. Bryant High School boys basketball team Tuesday as 6a AHSSA State Champions. On March 1, 2025, the PWBHS Stampede won the state championship game against Pinson Valley with a 66-54 win, marking the program’s first state title since 2017.

The team includes:

Head Coach(Boys)

Shon Peck-Love

Asst. Coaches

Norvie Womack

Katorrie Babatunde

Lorenzo Capehart

Athletic Director

Malcolm Gross

Team Roster:
William Jackson

Javion Williams

Reonshello Sullivan

Ty’Javian Byrd

McKinley Everette

Javante Moss

Josh Williams

King Larkin

Cameron Walton

Keyunce Samuel-Hollis

Alphonzo Morton
Joe Eatmon Jr.

Dancers, musicians and other student artists showed off their talents at the Bama Theatre March 25 as part of the annual TCS "Celebrate the Arts" performance. Students from every middle school and high school performed, including performances from students at the Alberta School of Performing Arts and the Tuscaloosa Fine Arts Academy at Paul W. Bryant High School.

To see a video of the entire performance, click here: Celebrate the Arts - Tuscaloosa City Schools - Live from Bama Theatre - YouTube

On Thursday, March 27th, Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Middle hosted their second annual Literacy Day, themed "Reading Across Genres: A Journey Through Literature." Students entered a simulated airport terminal in the gym and rotated through 12 genre-themed stations, each decorated to reflect a specific literary genre. At each station, they read a short passage and completed a related activity to earn a stamp in their "passport." The event encouraged exploration of diverse genres, promoted reading and writing, and fostered a community of readers. Faculty dressed as literary characters, and the day began with a skit by the Literacy Liaison team.

A groundbreaking was held March 25 by the 2024-2025 Leadership Tuscaloosa, along with city and TCS leaders for a new basketball court and a pavilion at New Heights Community Resource Center. The project, called New Hoops 4 New Heights, is being organized by the Leadership Tuscaloosa class and funded through community donations. The $83,000 project is expected to be finished by the end of May, and will be available for use by students at STARS Academy Tuscaloosa and the community at New Heights.

"This community center is about transforming lives, especially transforming the lives of our students and their families who need it the most," said TCS Superintendent Mike Daria. "To be here today, with this Leadership Tuscaloosa class, and the entire community, supporting a project to put additional facilities here at New Heights just means the world to our school system and the community as a whole. This changes the game and we are enormously excited for this addition."

To donate, visit: https://givebutter.com/new-heights-foundation-inc

The sugar snap pea plants have sprouted at Verner Elementary's garden, and last week Verner first grade students observed and documented the many sights, sounds, and smells our Schoolyard Roots garden has to offer in their lesson. According to first grade teacher Chelsea Allen, Ms. Wulf, the Garden Instructor, is a local celebrity at Verner!

The Exchange Club of Tuscaloosa honored the winners of the 2025 essay contest titled "What America Means to Me" on March 6. Seven TCS elementary students placed in the contest, and on March 6 each student had the chance to read their essay aloud to an audience of parents, teachers, and principals, and received a certificate and a gift card for their amazing essays. Thanks to the Exchange Club for sponsoring the essay contest.

Winners include:

Waller Gilmore - Verner Elementary School

Lucy Bui - Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Elementary

Mia Jones - Arcadia Elementary School

Miguel Taylor - Skyland Elementary School

Zahmari Merfalen - Central Elementary School

Destin Dao - Rock Quarry Elementary School

Azayla McCLeod - Oakdale Elementary

Congratulations to these TCS Students who placed at the Central Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair (CARSEF) at UAB on March 1. They had previously placed in the UA STEM Showcase before going on to the regional competition:

• Adam Abu Qahouq, Maxwell Snow, David Delaire - 2nd Place Behavioral and Social Science - Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools - Middle
• Beren Melouk, Elliott Jarrett, Jameson Cox - Honorable Mention Behavioral and Social Science - TMSM
• Neva Jane Reardon, Lottie Bryan, Harper Hart - Honorable Mention Biology TMSM
• Liam Patel, Luke Poole, Auggie Watkins - Honorable Mention Engineering - TMSM
• Sofia Huebner, Jireh Gibson, Layla Waller - 1st Place Environmental and Earth Science - TMSM
• Emma Grace Kemmerer, Addison Large, Delina Manasse - Honorable Mention Environmental and Earth Science - TMSM
• Anastasia Gleyzer - 1st Place Mathematics and Computer Science - Northridge Middle School
• Orlandria Stewart - 2nd Place Medicine and Health Science - Westlawn Middle School

Central High School hosted a health fair March 27 to focus on students' physical, mental and emotional needs. The "Falcon Fair" aimed to provide resources and services to support the CHS youth in navigating the challenges of being a teenager, and help make students and families about the resources and agencies available locally. There were 28 different agencies and businesses present to provide information, resources, and free stuff to the students, as well as games and fun activities for them to help them learn in a fun way. Sponsors of the event included Shelton State Community College Stillman College DCH Health System Alabama Public Health Five Horizons Health Services West AlabamaWorks and New Heights Community Resource Center.

Neighborhood Bridges helps gather donations of items that are needed by our TCS students and schools. These items go directly to making a positive impact. Since TCS Neighborhood Bridges was launched in 2019, there have been 866 needs filled and 43,970 students have benefitted. Check out their current donation wish list today by clicking the link below!

Tuscaloosa City | Neighborhood Bridges

If you see a threat on social media, especially coming from a student or relating to a school, report it. Let law enforcement, school resource officer, a teacher or school administrator know as soon as possible. Reposting doesn't help, but reporting it can. Remember if you see something, SAY SOMETHING! Parents, please speak with your child(ren) about how important it is to report.

BSN Sports has set up online "swag stores" for our schools where any student, faculty or parent can buy school branded gear. This was a desire that was expressed by students during the Superintendent's student advisory meetings at the high schools last school year.

The "swag" on these sites include a variety of price points, brands, and are in men's, women's and children's sizes, plus they have cups and other items as well. On the main page, they also have gear per sport.

There is also branded gear for the elementary and middle schools, too! To see the middle school and elementary options, on the desktop website, once you have clicked on the type of item to browse, you can go to the sidebar where it says "campus" and then select feeder school, where the items will pop up with other school names. Select the school that you want.

Each feeder zone will receive 10% back of all purchases in the form of a store credit/rebate that can be used for future branded purchases by the school(s). So, support your school and show school pride!

Northridge feeder zone store: NORTHRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL JAGUARS - TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - Sideline Store - BSN Sports

Central feeder zone store: CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL FALCONS - TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - Sideline Store - BSN Sports

Bryant feeder zone store: PAUL W BRYANT HIGH SCHOOL STAMPEDE - COTTONDALE, Alabama - Sideline Store - BSN Sports