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Alabama Gov. Bob Riley believes some of the state’s surplus funds should be used for capital improvements to schools.

This past Monday, Feb. 6, Riley toured Centre Middle School, which is faced with many problems, including leaky roofs, a faulty heating and cooling system and other concerns. Riley toured one part of the school in which students were wearing their jackets because of the coldness. In other areas, teachers and students had to open doors and windows because it was too hot in the classroom.

“There is a big debate going on in Montgomery today about whether or not these schools need some capital money for all of these improvements,” said Riley. “It is amazing to me that we are having this debate. If you look at what they are proposing in Montgomery today it makes no sense to me. They are saying there is not enough money in Gov. Riley’s capital plan so we are going to put this money in a savings account, hold it for a year and try to get up enough money to have a bigger one next year. If you do that, it is going to be at least two years before any repair is going to be done on this facility right here. And you’ve got tape around the outside walls where the brick is literally falling off this building. You’ve got police tape to keep kids from walking up and falling through the floor. You’ve got buildings that are leaking, the kids are having to go outside when it is raining to walk across to the gymnasium. And to tell this school that they can’t get any help for at least two years, just does not make sense when we’ve got a half billion dollars of surplus money in this state.”

“I would just like to say that this school and all schools in Alabama deserve more,” said Marcia Sewell, assistant principal, Centre Middle School. “We need to step up to the plate and give students what they need. I take tremendous pride in our school here. On the surface level, you went out front, took pictures, it looks pretty good. But when you get down in the boiler room, you get under the façade, it gets kind of scary and I worry about what is going to happen to our students."

Mrs. Sewell said she was glad to see Gov. Riley taking an interest in Centre Middle Schools and other schools in similar situations.

“It makes me feel good to know there is someone out there who is really trying to do what is right for the students and is concerned about the students,” said Mrs. Sewell. “We are here to educate and when we have to worry about whether we’ve got enough heat or safety issues, it is hard to educate. When students are so cold thay can’t take their coats off to hold their pencils, it is hard to educate. And we don’t know how many kids are coming from homes from those types of situations. It’s cold at home, it is cold at school. This needs to be a safe place for them.”

“I would like to personally thank Gov. Riley for taking time out of his busy schedule to come to Cherokee County,” said Brian Johnson, superintendent, Cherokee County Schools. “We have a common concern. I think we are both concerned with the education of our children.”