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Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall paid a special visit to Elvin Hill Elementary School on Monday, Feb. 3 to personally present the 2024 Safe Schools Initiative Award. (Reporter photos/Noah Wortham)

By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – In a proud moment for Elvin Hill Elementary School faculty and staff, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall paid a special visit on Monday, Feb. 3 to personally present EHES with the 2024 Safe Schools Initiative Award.

EHES was one of six schools to be named 2024 Safe School Award winners by Marshall and was one of the few schools to receive a perfect score under the criteria for school safety.

“I enjoy (being) able to highlight those successes that we have in our state, especially when it’s around the issue of community safety,” Marshall said. “When students feel safe and engaged, they have greater opportunities to learn. They experience classroom environments that will give them the best chances for success. Elvin Hill Elementary School has made school safety a priority and your students in your community are better because of it.”

During his visit to EHES, Marshall was accompanied by members of the three-person panel that participated in the judging process which included Dale Stripling and Seth Sullivan with the Alabama State Department of Education and Pam Revels with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

The selection process involved a comprehensive four-phase application and review process by the judges who have skill and knowledge in school safety trends.

“(What) I am here to tell you today is that, out of over 1,500 public and private schools in the state of Alabama, Elvin Hill Elementary School is only one of six to be selected for an Alabama safe school award,” Marshall said.

As part of his presentation, Marshall invited EHES’ school resource officers on stage to honor them for their efforts and the unique opportunity they have to serve and interact with students.

“One of the original reasons why this application was so outstanding is the caliber and the quality and the interaction that your SROs have for the students at the school,” Marshall said. “And I can tell you, the men and women that stand here beside me entered law enforcement to keep the community safe. The fact that they can come into school and get hugs and handshakes and high fives just simply furthers the reason why they engaged in public service.”

After honoring the SROs, Marshall invite EHES Principal Courtney Madison to come forward and personally handed her the 2024 Safe Schools Initiative Award alongside a proclamation.

“It is truly my privilege as the attorney general, on behalf of the Alabama Safe Schools Initiative to honor and present Elvin Hill Elementary School (the) 2024 Alabama Attorney General Safe School Award,” Marshall said. “Perfection is hard to beat, but I think if you can continue what you’re doing, there’s a likelihood we’ll be back in Columbiana next year.”

During the ceremony, Madison addressed those in attendance and spoke to the importance of school safety and expressed her appreciation for what the honor demonstrates about dedication administrators and the safety team has.

“It goes beyond the locked doors and security measures. It’s really about fostering a culture of trust, a culture of respect and community,” Madison said. “It’s about ensuring that every student feels seen, heard and valued and thanks to our collective efforts, we have built a foundation where students can focus on learning, teachers can focus on teaching and parents can find peace of mind knowing their children are protected.”

Shelby County Schools Superintendent Dr. Lewis Brooks expressed his gratitude to those who made the award possible and thanked administration, the student services team, teachers, staff members and the SCS Board of Education.

“This award is a reflection of the collective efforts of the Columbiana Police Department the County Commission (and) Shelby County Schools to make our schools safe for everyone,” Brooks said. “When we think about what makes the school environment truly safe, it’s not just about having secure doors, surveillance cameras (and) SROs. True safety comes in creating a space where every student feels respected, valued and loved.”

Brooks said creating a safe school environment is about fostering an atmosphere where every student is prioritized and bullying is addressed very seriously.

“This award represents the work of everyone who has dedicated themselves to ensuring that safety is not just a policy but a living practice,” Brooks said. “It is a reminder that every action we take, large or small, has the power to shape our school that we desire.”

Those interested in learning more about Elvin Hill Elementary School may visit Shelbyed.k12.al.us/o/ehes.

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