By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Incoming Alabaster School Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers said he was pleased with the atmosphere at the city’s schools on May 7 as he spent most of the day touring the six buildings.

Vickers, who will take over the upstart school district’s top spot on July 1, was hired by the Alabaster School Board on May 1. He currently is the superintendent of the Saraland City School System, and will be splitting his time between Alabaster and Saraland over the next few months.

“I will be using some of my vacation time to visit Alabaster, but I am committed to making sure Saraland has got everything they need before July 1,” Vickers said at about noon as he was touring Thompson Intermediate School.

Vickers said he left Saraland – which is in Mobile County – at about 4:30 a.m. on May 7, and was planning to drive back after his visit to Alabaster.

“I feel great right now, but I may be feeling it a little later this afternoon,” Vickers said with a laugh.

During his 30-minute tour of TIS, Vickers spoke with TIS Principal Dr. Ke Jones and assistant principals Lea Grimes and Stephanie Sealy, visited with teachers and greeted children in the hallways.

In addition to touring the city’s schools with Alabaster Interim School Superintendent Dr. Phillip Hammonds and Alabaster School Board member Dr. John Myrick, Vickers also held a meeting with the city’s central school office staff.

“I am having a great day. I’ve enjoyed meeting the administrators and faculty and becoming more familiar with the schools,” Vickers said, noting he sees many similarities between Alabaster and Saraland. “There are some wonderful people here. I am very impressed with what I’ve seen.

“I won’t rest until Alabaster is the best school district in the state. The sky is the limit,” Vickers added.