THS prepares for new school year

By Staff
Kim West
Tharptown High School will welcome its first senior class in school history when Franklin County schools open Monday.
Approximately 35 seniors have registered at Tharptown, which became a high school in 2006.
"This year is very exciting for Tharptown because we have a lot of things to look forward to," said Tharptown principal Darit Riddle, who has taught at the school for the past 10 years. "It's going to be exciting and sad all rolled into one because I've been around them a long time and have a good relationship with them.
"I think we're fortunate to have this class be our first senior class because we have a lot of good kids."
Rising seniors Mackinley Flannagin and Beth Lane became the school's first American Legion representatives this summer. Flanagain was chosen for Boys State, while Lane attended Girls State.
Tharptown also received an $80,000 ACCESS computer lab grant from the state education department, and the school expects to receive the equipment by January.
"This will be good for a small school like us that is still growing," Riddle said. "If there are courses we don't offer, students will be able to take web-based and distance-learning classes in the lab."
The school has also added a Title I math teacher, Jamie Keys, and a Jobs for Alabama Graduates instructor, Kelli Gilbert, who will coach the junior girls basketball team at Tharptown.
"We are only the third high school in the state to have a Title I math teacher," Riddle said. "This teacher will be able to work with students from 7-12 and offer assistance with math classes, SAT and the graduation exam.
"The JAG teacher will be here for half a day to help all the high school students make career choices."