Baldwin County Public Schools Superintendent Eddie Tyler recaps 2022-23 school year

Review highlighted academic growth, school safety as well as looked ahead to the next school calendar

By KARA MAUTZ
Reporter
kara@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 6/6/23

As the 2022-2023 school year came to a close, Baldwin County Public School superintendent Eddie Tyler recapped the journey and provided a few updates for the year to come.

In an official email, …

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Baldwin County Public Schools Superintendent Eddie Tyler recaps 2022-23 school year

Review highlighted academic growth, school safety as well as looked ahead to the next school calendar

Posted

As the 2022-2023 school year came to a close, Baldwin County Public School superintendent Eddie Tyler recapped the journey and provided a few updates for the year to come.

In an official email, Tyler discussed the growth, summer enrichment, training work, school security and safety measures as well as the 2023 graduating class.

Student body & academic growth

“Over the last few years two cities, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have pulled away from our system. One would think our county school population would have gone down dramatically with the loss of several thousand kids,” Tyler said. “But in fact, we continue to grow so fast our student population remains the same. We currently host more than 30,000 students with this year's senior class graduating 2,103 students.”

In addition to the growing numbers, there have also been over two dozen new schools and classroom expansions over the last decade according to Tyler.

“We have spent almost half a billion dollars with no new debt and no new taxes. Our ‘pay as you go’ construction plans are paid for with current tax revenues,” Tyler said. “All of these projects are paid for, and we owe no debt.

Tyler also discussed the returned funds from the recent school splits, and the plans to reinvest that money back into the local high schools.

“We are reinvesting back to our local high schools more than $50 million, again, completely debt free,” Tyler said. “These new construction projects will build indoor facilities for programs ranging from band and color guard to football, basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball and so on.”

Summer enrichment & training

While summer break is the time for relaxation, there will also be programs available for students and faculty to keep their minds sharp during the long break.

Tyler detailed the summer reading challenges and literacy camps available for students, as well as the professional training and Gulf Regional Innovative Teaching Conference (GRITC) program that hundreds of teachers will participate in over the summer break.

“While school is out, take notice as you drive by our schools this summer,” Tyler said. “There are always cars on campus and people working to get us ready and better for the next school year.”

School safety & security measures

“As far as our kids go, I know you all read about the shootings and tragedies going on around the country. I don't know why schools have become such a target of violence and outrage,” Tyler said. “We have had instances of guns, fake and real, on our campuses but our kids remain safe through the amazing partnership we have with law enforcement protecting our kids.”

Tyler said Baldwin County remains the only county school system with armed law enforcement officers on campus every day.

“They are embedded with our kids, they build relationships, they are there to teach safety, responsibility and even manners,” Tyler said. “Most importantly, they are there to give their life for your child’s if it were to come to that.”

According to Tyler, there will be additional upgrades to the security system for the next school year, including improved surveillance, tactical response enhancement, alerts and drills.

“I want you to know that the safety of your children and our employees is a top priority of our board and school administration,” Tyler said. “If you ever see something you think we need to know about, please take a moment and send us an email to news@bcbe.org.”

Class of 2023

Tyler said the most recent graduating class has received an abundance of post-graduation opportunities, whether they are college-bound or set to join the workforce.

“Many of these graduates are moving into the workforce in high-paying jobs through our apprentice programs with local manufacturers,” Tyler said. “For those college-bound kids, this senior class was offered more than $81.8 million in scholarships including $5.2 million in athletic scholarships, $74.5 million in academic scholarships, and more than $2 million in fine arts scholarships.”

And while the area provides plenty of chances for other paths to be taken, Tyler said he was pleased with the students’ resolve to earn their diploma.

“In a county like ours where tourism opportunities are attractive and the economy is strong it can be hard to keep kids focused on finishing high school,” Tyler said. “I am so encouraged with our graduation rates and the hard work these students have put into finishing and finishing strong.”

What’s to come for the 2023-2024 school year?

In addition to a recap of the past school year, Tyler also gave a brief overview of the plans for the upcoming school year.

The biggest addition will be the launch of Baldwin Preparatory Academy, the new career tech high school.

“This is a first in Alabama. Our team visited Ohio, Texas and other states to see what they were doing to lead the way in workforce development,” Tyler said. “This new complex is already towering over Highway 59 in Loxley north of I-10.”

According to Tyler, the new school will offer training in an innovative, cutting-edge environment.

The academy will offer courses such as nursing, robotics, cosmetology, cyber-security, airplane manufacturing, welding, diesel repair, HVAC, electrical and mechatronics.

“Our goal here is to graduate highly skilled students who can enter the workforce at the highest level, with the highest pay of any eighteen-year-olds in public school history,” Tyler said. “In addition to this career-focused training and industry certificated program, driven students at Baldwin Prep will have the exclusive opportunity to graduate with a high school diploma and an associate degree, another first in Alabama.”