Elmore County students returned for the 2024-2025 school year on Wednesday, August 7, and all schools reported a smooth opening. We currently have 11,110 students enrolled in 16 schools in the district, and we anticipate continued growth throughout this school year.
I am excited to report that Elmore County Schools has several construction projects planned across the district. A new main entrance will be constructed at Wetumpka Elementary School. The school opened in 1963 as the W. B. Doby High School and is included on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage. This project will improve the safety and security of the main entrance to the school and create a bright, welcoming environment for students, parents, staff, and visitors.
The Elmore County Technical Center continues to grow to meet workforce demands and student interest. A diesel mechanic program will be added to bring the total number of Career and Technical Education programs offered in Elmore County to 17. Construction on the diesel mechanic facility will begin in the near future.
Several quality-of-life projects are planned around the county with the goal of enhancing students’ and stakeholders’ experiences outside the classroom. The sports fields in the Eclectic and Holtville areas will receive a much-needed upgrade. Artificial turf will be installed on the softball, baseball, and football fields in both communities. The Hohenberg Field complex in the Wetumpka area has undergone several improvements, including two new multipurpose turf fields, new sports lighting, paved parking areas, renovation of concrete plazas, and demolition of outdated facilities. The master plan for these projects involves prioritized improvements to be made in phases.
Similar to the 17 Springs project in the Millbrook area, these projects are joint ventures funded by multiple entities, including the City of Wetumpka, the Town of Eclectic, Elmore County Board of Education, Elmore County Commission, and Elmore County Economic Development Authority. Finally, a new traf-fic pattern in the Eclectic area will reroute traffic onto Board of Education property to provide a smoother traffic flow and minimize encroachment onto private property.
Elmore County Schools constantly strives to provide an exceptional education for every student and continually seeks ways to enhance safety and offer high-quality facilities for all stakeholders. In Elmore County, we believe “every student empowered – every student succeeds.”
Richard Dennis is the Superintendent of Education for El-more County Schools. He is a 1983 graduate of Holtville High School. He served 21 years as a high school principal at Holtville High, Wetumpka High and most recently, Prattville High. He and wife, Leslie (also an educator) have three sons and a daughter.
