MADISON COUNTY, ALABAMA, Ala. — On Wednesday, the Huntsville Madison County Chamber of Commerce held the Ninth Annual State of the Schools Address. This year, the program was held virtually.
During the State of the Schools Address, the superintendents of Huntsville City, Madison City, and Madison County Schools reflected on the obstacles their schools have faced during the pandemic.
Madison County Schools Superintendent, Allen Perkins, said, "It has been a challenge, when you start thinking about working through those particular processes of not physically having students in your building."
The three superintendents said they have had to adapt and be flexible over the last year.
Schools have had to transition to virtual learning and navigate hybrid schedules. Teachers have taken on a heavier workload to ensure their in person and virtual students are getting the education they need.
To make sure learning from home was possible, schools distributed laptops and other supplies to students.
Madison County Schools Superintendent, Dr. Ed Nichols, said, "Our teachers and our building level staff and our district staff put out 6,500 laptops in days, and they put out 800 hot spots so those students that needed Wi-Fi could have it."
Through grants, schools were able to hire on more therapists and social workers to address mental health needs during the pandemic.
Perkins says their therapists have done a great job working with both students and parents.
"The therapists worked through mental health and things of that nature to make sure that our students are sound in mind while they are going through these particular times," said Perkins.
Although each school system had hiccups when adapting during the pandemic, they say they found ways for kids to continue to grow and thrive.
Huntsville City Schools Superintendent, Christie Finley, applauded coaches and sponsors for their hard work during the pandemic.
"They were able to look at safety protocols and how that could be transferred outside the classroom setting and to be able to still have football games or cyber competitions and basketball games and to do so safely," said Finley. "I think it's important to remember that not only are we a business about making sure students are achieving academically, but that social, emotional piece is also important."
On top of the pandemic, these school systems are adapting to the rapid growth in the Huntsville-Madison County area.
Finley said, "We have to be very intentional looking at capacity in our schools, where the growth is, and where maybe new schools need to be."
The 12 mill property tax in Madison that passed in 2019 is helping Madison City Schools combat overcrowding.
"I think it says a lot about our community that 70% of our voters supported an increase of 12 mills," said Dr. Nichols.
Dr. Nichols says the tax increase currently brings in about $12 million a year for the school system.
"We are able to take about 8 mill of that or about $8 million," said Dr. Nichols. "We've been able to bond that money for a new elementary school, Midtown Elementary, that will go online next year and then a new middle school, Journey Middle School, that will go online the following school year to help us because of the overcrowding that we currently are experiencing."
He says they will be able to use some of the funding for additions to other schools and more SROs.
The Alabama School of Cyber Technology & Engineering is assisting with the growth in Madison County. The school's president Matt Massey says they enrolled 70 students in their first year. Thirty of those student live on campus at Oakwood University.
Massey says they have continued with in person learning since their first day of school.
Applications are open for ASCTE for the 2021-2022 school year. Applications close at the end of February. Massey says they plan to bring in 80 to 90 more students in the fall.
WATCH: Madison County Service Center in Huntsville to open March 1