Every K-12 student in Andalusia City Schools will have access to an electronic device when school begins on Aug. 5.
The Andalusia City Council on Monday approved the school system’s plan for use of proceeds from the city’s half-cent sales tax for education on Tuesday. The school system plans to lease additional Apple computers at a cost of $110,000 per year to complete its goal of one ipad or laptop per student.
“These are the kinds of things we set out to do when we agreed to adopt this sales tax,” Mayor Earl Johnson said. “There aren’t many school systems in Alabama that provide computer access to students at this level.”
The education sales tax also will be used to fund:
• Asbestos removal and replacement tile in the hallways of Andalusia High School.
• A music teacher at Andalusia High School.
• Leader in Me training for teachers at Andalusia Elementary School. The character program is built on Stephen Covey’s “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.”
• New fencing of the AHS baseball and softball fields.
• Sealing and striping the parking lots at AHS.
• Matching funding of $50,000 for a five-year, $625,000 grant currently being pursued by the Drug Free Andalusia Coalition and Peer Helpers.
• Debt services on the auditorium and stadium projects at AHS.
Andalusia Police Chief Paul Hudson is celebrating his 25th year with the City Of Andalusia.
Hudson joined the city in 1994, when then-chief Jerry Williamson hired him.
In 1997, he was promoted to patrol sergeant and then K9 sergeant the following year.
Williamson promoted Hudson to lieutenant in 1999.
In 2003, he became a part of the 22nd Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force.
Hudson spent nine years on the DTF before he was transferred back to patrol before Mayor Earl Johnson promoted him to chief in 2013.
Hudson earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Troy University in 2011, and is a graduate of FBI NA Class 223.