Winfield City Schools

Winfield Schools placed on lockdown

Winfield school board member Chris Carothers (left) and school board chairman James Garner (middle) stand by the fence at the elementary school during the lockdown to explain the situation to parents arriving for a school event, all while Winfield police officer Shane Dickinson (right) stands guard with his rifle.

WINFIELD — Winfield City Schools were all placed on lockdown on Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, Feb. 14, after receiving a threat over the phone.
Officers from the Winfield City Police Department, as well as the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and others responded to each school around 11:30 that morning after the threat was received.
Parents who arrived at the elementary school for a scheduled event were either left standing in the parking lot or stuck in the elementary school’s auditorium during the lockdown.

Winfield City Schools accept $1 million SITEL renovation bid

K&A Construction of Tuscaloosa wins $1 million bid for renovating the old SITEL building for the Winfield City Board of Education.

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
WINFIELD — The Winfield City Board of Education voted to approve a $1,025,400 bid from K&A Construction out of Tuscaloosa to renovate the old SITEL building.
The new renovations will convert the old office space into a new board office, along with several classroom spaces for new career tech programs the school is planning to introduce, such as health sciences, cosmetology and public law and safety.

City, schools partner to hire police officers

Winfield Police Chief Brett Burleson prefers police officers to be at schools.

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
WINFIELD — The Winfield City Council, police department and the board of education have partnered to hire two new police officers to better protect students in light of recent tragedies, such as the Uvalde school shooting.
According to Police Chief Brett Burleson, the new officers will not be dedicated school resource officers but will be regular police officers. The addition of the new officers will allow Winfield Police to have an officer rotate between each school throughout the day.

Winfield City Schools plan policy change

Winfield City Schools Superintendent Randy Thomley is re-examining policies with board members.

By Luke Brantley
Staff writer
WINFIELD — The Winfield City School Board is planning on making changes to school policy in regards to the dress code and other areas.
The idea of making changes entered discussion during the school board’s regular meeting on Thursday, Feb. 10.
School board attorney Todd Atkinson said the board needed to update  the dress code to fit modern society.

Winfield City Schools receives high marks

By LOUIS MELLINI
Staff Writer

WINFIELD - Winfield City Schools has placed 16th on a list of the top 22 schools in the State of Alabama on ranking website Niche
The rankings are based on reviews submitted by students and parents along with data from the U.S. Department of Education, including test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, SAT/ACT scores, teacher quality, and public school district ratings.

‘We’re tired of it’

Winfield City Schools Superintendent of Education Randy Thomley, Winfield Police Chief Brett Burleson and Mayor Randy Price spoke to parents concerning the recent outbreak of vaping in the school system. School faculty and Winfield Police Officers are eager to fond a solution to ending vaping in schools. [Luke Brantley/staff]

WINFIELD — Interim superintendent Randy Thomley, joined by police chief Brett Burleson and the principals of the middle and high school, spoke to parents at a meeting on Thursday night, Oct. 7, to discuss the growing issue of students using vape products in school.
Thomley announced that the school system will now be partnering with the Winfield Police Department, since it is illegal in the state of Alabama for minors to purchase, use or posess e-cigarettes.

System COVID numbers get perspective

By Luke Brantley
Staff Writer

WINFIELD - Interim Winfield Superintendent of Education Randy Thomley says Winfield schools are in a fortunate position despite cases of COVID-19 increasing in Marion County communities.
“Since last Tuesday, Aug. 24, we’ve had 30 positive students and six positive employees,” Thomley said.
Winfield City Schools is requiring students to wear masks at all times while on the school campus. Marion County Schools have not made a mask requirement, though they are being encouraged.

Winfield schools requiring masks

Winfield City High School will welcome back masked students tomorrow, Thursday, Aug. 12. [Winfield City Schools]

WINFIELD — Winfield students returning for the fall semester will be required to wear masks, according to Winfield City Schools’ Path to Reopening.
The document, released by the board of education and amended on Aug. 6, details the precautions that will be put in place for students and faculty as the new school year begins in the midst of a rising number of COVID cases.

 

Cook says zero COVID cases since February

WINFIELD - Winfield City Schools Superintendent of Education Chris Cook announced that Winfield City Schools has not had a single case of COVID-19 since Feb. 4.
Cook stated this during the Winfield City Schools Board of Education meeting held on Tuesday, April 13, at Winfield Middle School.
“We haven't had a positive case since Feb. 4th, but we have one girl in the elementary school who is awaiting results now. She's shown some minor symptoms, but nothing serious,” Cook told the Journal Record.