State Representatives Fund Districtwide Initiatives
DECATUR, Alabama (October 18, 2023)— We are pleased to announce that Representatives Terri Collins and Parker Duncan Moore presented checks to the Foundation funding some exciting initiatives within Decatur City Schools! Representative Collins secured funding for the new Pre-EPIC program at the Career Academies of Decatur, Pre-ACT for our middle and junior high students, K-3 Mastery of Standards software and an item for the Excel Center. Representative Moore secured funding for new equipment and supplies for the expansion of the Scholars Bowl program districtwide. We are so grateful for the support of our legislatures and look forward to witnessing the impact that this funding will have!
Pictured standing left to right: Stevi Price, Doug Bachuss, Jason Palmer, Shelton Cobb, Dwight Jett, Parker Moore, Ressa Chittam, Denny Smith, Mandi Jones, Wanda Davis, Anita Clarke, Stefanie Underwood & Ashley Ashwander. Seated: Katye Coats, Peggy Baggett, Terri Collins & Michele Gray-King
New Advanced Manufacturing Program Coming to the Career Academies of Decatur
DECATUR, Alabama (January 17, 2023)— Thank you to Indorama Ventures Xylenes & PTA (IVXP) for supporting the Career Academies of Decatur's new EPIC program. This will provide Decatur City Schools’ students with another opportunity to graduate career ready. EPIC is a foundational skills program designed to teach the skills required to succeed in advanced manufacturing. This modular program can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 year advanced manufacturing curriculum and students will have the opportunity to earn dual enrollment.
Pictured left to right: Foundation Board Member, Victoria Tumbleson; CAD Counselor, Sarah Wood; AlphaPet Plant Manager, Uday Garg; IVXP Plant Manager, Steve Norwood; Foundation Executive Director, Stevi Price and Foundation Board Member, Brandon Watkins
Rollin’ Into STEM
DECATUR, Alabama (December 13, 2022)— Hats off to the Employees Community Fund of Boeing Alabama (ECFBA) for supporting Decatur City Schools - Alabama's (DCS) Rollin' into STEM initiative! The new mobile STEM bus will not only visit all 17 schools, impacting roughly 8,500 students, it will also be utilized for community outreach. Our goal is to expose students to enhanced STEM education and to make learning come to life through computer science, coding, 3D printing, hands-on learning with innovative teaching strategies, and more. The DCS STEM bus will help us achieve this goal!
Pictured left to right: Boeing Staff Analyst, Angel Baytop and Foundation Executive Director, Stevi Price;
Community Care Fund
DECATUR, Alabama (December 13, 2022)— Decatur Utilities has once again partnered with the Tennessee Valley Authority to award a total of $35,000 from TVA’s Community Care Fund program to local non-profits with matching funds provided by 3M. Out of the total funds donated, Decatur City Schools Foundation was grateful to receive $15,000 from TVA and $15,000 from 3M to be used towards funding Foundation initiatives including the new DCS Drone Club for 3rd graders, USA Test Prep for our middle and junior high schools and the Decatur Austin Robotics Club.
Pictured left to right: Foundation Executive Director, Stevi Price; Decatur Utilities General Manager, Ray Hardin; TVA Community Relations Specialist, Keeuntae Stone; 3M Plant Manager, Michelle Howell; Foundation Board Member, Victoria Tumbleson
Rollin’ Into STEM
DECATUR, Alabama (October 19, 2022)— We are so thankful for our corporate partners and couldn't do what we do without their support! We are pleased to announce that 3M has presented the Foundation with $20,000 worth of funding towards Decatur City Schools’ STEM Bus initiative. We can't wait for this bus to roll up to our schools and because of this funding, we are one more step closer to seeing it happen.
Pictured left to right: Foundation Executive Director, Stevi Price; Elementary Instructional Technology, Faith Plunkett; Plant Manager, Michelle Howell; HR Manager, Jon Wood and Corporate Community Engagement and Public Relations Specialist, Grant Thompson
Wetlands Edge Environmental Center
DECATUR, Alabama (September 13, 2022)— The Decatur City Schools Foundation is pleased to facilitate a $30,000 pass-through from Indorama Ventures Xylenes & PTA (IVXP) to fund the Wetlands Edge Environmental Center (WEEC).
WEEC is the culmination of a partnership between IVXP (formerly bp) and Decatur City Schools (DCS) to offer DCS students, students from other public school systems, IVXP employees and their families, and the public a chance to learn about nature "up close and personal."
Pictured left to right: Foundation Executive Director, Stevi Price; IVXP Plant Manager, Steven Norwood; Foundation Vice President, Drei Marthaler
DARC & Cyber Security Funding
DECATUR, Alabama (September 13, 2022)— The Decatur City Schools Foundation is pleased to provide funding to cover the competition fees of the Decatur Austin Robotics Coalition and Cyber Security team. The Foundation presented them with a check for $1,000 during last nights board meeting.
Pictured left to right: Career Tech Supervisor, Shelton Cobb; Secondary Curriculum Supervisor, Anita Clarke; DARC Volunteer, Doug Shoemaker; Foundation Executive Director, Stevi Price; Foundation Vice President, Drei Marthaler
Senator Arthur Orr Supports Efforts
DECATUR, Alabama (September 9, 2022)— The Decatur City Schools Foundation is pleased to announce that Senator Arthur Orr has been successful in helping us secure funding for the Career Academies of Decatur’s Automotive Academy and new building furniture needs. He also provided us with funding for our annual Teacher Mini-Grants and the new STEAM Bus.
Pictured left to right: Board of Education, Jason Palmer; Foundation Executive Director, Stevi Price; State Senator, Arthur Orr; Board of Education President, Michele Gray King; Foundation Secretary, Ressa Chittam, Board of Education, Doug Bachuss; DCS Superintendent, Dr. Michael Douglas
Representative Terri Collins Funds Rollin’ into STEAM
DECATUR, Alabama (August 10, 2022)— The Decatur City Schools Foundation is pleased to announce that Representative Terri Collins presented Decatur City Schools with a check for $40,000 for their STEAM bus. We are so excited about this latest endeavor and look forward to witnessing the impact that this bus has on our schools and community.
Pictured left to right: DCS Superintendent, Dr. Michael Douglas; Board of Education, Doug Bachuss; Board of Education Vice President, Peggy Baggett; Board of Education President, Michele Gray King; Elementary Instructional Technology, Faith Plunkett; State Representative, Terri Collins; Foundation Vice President, Drei Marthaler; Foundation President, Zach Starnes; Board of Education, Jason Palmer
Representative Parker Moore Supports Automotive Academy
DECATUR, Alabama (August 10, 2022)— The Decatur City Schools Foundation is pleased to announce that Representative Parker Moore presented Decatur City Schools with a check for $10,000 for our automotive department at the Career Academies! Thank you Rep. Moore for your continued support of our school system.
Pictured left to right: DCS Superintendent, Dr. Michael Douglas; Board of Education, Doug Bachuss; Board of Education Vice President, Peggy Baggett; Board of Education President, Michele Gray King; State Representative, Parker Moore; Career Academies Teacher, Robert Grissom; Foundation Secretary, Ressa Chittam; Foundation Vice President, Drei Marthaler; Foundation President, Zach Starnes; Board of Education, Jason Palmer
Making An Impact
DECATUR, Alabama (February 9, 2021)— Decatur City Schools Foundation board votes to provide key funding for several top priority needs within Decatur City Schools (DCS) totaling $145,000. These priorities will benefit over 8,000 students district-wide.
Read Wherever You Are
DECATUR, Alabama (December 4, 2020)— International Paper awarded a $10,000 grant benefitting the Decatur City Schools Foundation’s Library Expansion program. This will fund e-book access for Kindergarten-8th grades throughout the district. The Library Expansion program supports the Decatur City Schools effort to increase student engagement and increase the reading skills of over 6,000 students.
Playing with Cars - Raising Up Engineers
DECATUR, Alabama (October 20, 2020)— Boeing awarded a $50,000 grant to the Decatur City Schools Foundation that provides funds for expanding Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education throughout Decatur City Schools. This initiative includes the expansion of the Greenpower USA electric race car program into the 4th through 6th grades, a 3-D printer for grades 7th through 8th and a Composite Lab to be utilized by the Engineering Academy (composed of students from both Austin and Decatur High School).