DECATUR, Ala. — Decatur City Schools superintendent Dr. Michael Douglas said one thing they preach at Decatur City Schools is growth. The district is taking a non-traditional approach, transitioning their Career Academies into a third high school. They will also be implementing a new Pre-K center next fall.
It's not the first first day of school here at Career Academies of Decatur but the seniors who walk "in" the door next week will be the first class to walk "out" with a diploma. Each student who opts in to this non-traditional setting focuses on trades, ready to join the workforce after graduation.
Decatur City Schools superintendent Dr. Michael Douglas said they're one of the first in the state to offer a non-traditional high school emphasizing hands-on careers. "This will allow our kids to graduate early, to co-op, to make money, and more importantly, through embedded credit, you know, they don't have to take as many courses in areas that aren't of interest. Particularly with what happened with wages in this area. You know, skilled trade is making more than some college degrees now. So we just felt like it serves to our community and we wanted to give our kids, some kids. a traditional high school is not what they want."
Douglas said this year is a particularly exciting one for Career Tech. Next fall, the spotlight shifts with the opening of a brand new Pre-K center. "This will allow us to remove all those kids that are on waiting list for Pre-K to get Pre-K. It also frees up, every elementary school will then have extra classroom space because all the Pre-K kids will go to the standalone Pre-K center."
Deputy Superintendent of Operations and Safety Dwight Satterfield said safety is another concern. "We're on our second year with the open gate systems, and that's a weapon detection system that is not a metal detector. Otherwise, everyone would have to divest the metal that's in their pocket. If you'll get the plastic three ring binder, your kid won't have to take that binder out of their backpack."