‘Exceptional’ dedication to safety earns RES award

RUSSELLVILLE — Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall lauded Russellville Elementary’s “exceptional” dedication to the safety of its students and staff as the prime reason the school was awarded a 2024 Safe School Initiative Award.

“There are more than 1,500 private and public schools in our state and only six are honored like this,” Marshall said Feb. 6 to the assembled crowd in the school cafeteria, which included fifth graders, faculty and local officials and first responders. “It takes a principal that’s committed to pull it all together and you have a mayor and superintendent that said this is a priority and provided the resources to make it possible.”

Schools throughout the state took part in 2024 in a comprehensive application and review process that involved a panel of independent judges with “real-world insight into school safety trends.”

“Russellville Elementary School’s dedication to safety is exceptional,” Marshall said, citing advanced security measures and strong partnerships with law enforcement.

“They have set a benchmark for safe and effective learning environments,” Marshall continued. “This award acknowledges their commitment to not only meeting but surpassing the highest standards of school safety.”

PHOTO BY MARÍA CAMP – Russellville City Schools Superintendent Dr. Tim Guinn told those attending last week’s ceremony the receipt of the 2024 Safe School Initiative Award is testament to the hard work that has gone into making sure the city’s schools are safe for students and faculty.

City Schools Superintendent Dr. Tim Guinn said the award reflects the system’s overall efforts to make sure that student safety is always a top priority.

“It is a great honor for our faculty and staff at Russellville Elementary School to be selected for this award,” Guinn said. “School safety is something that we stress each day, and it is a top priority at all our schools. For RES to be selected as one of six to be honored out of all the schools in the state is certainly an honor and indicative of the hard work that goes into making sure our schools are safe for our students and faculty.”

Principal Tiffany Warhurst said the state recognition means a great deal because it acknowledges her school staff’s hard work. More importantly, it means all measures are being taken to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone who enters through the doors at Russellville Elementary.

Mayor David Grissom said school safety has “always been a top priority for the city and members of the city council” and described the school’s receipt of the award as “an honor.”

PHOTO BY MARÍA CAMP – Alabama State Rep. Jamie Kiel, who attended the presentation, said Attorney General Steve Marshall’s staff learned something Russellville residents already knew – that the city has one of the safest school districts in the state because of its “dedicated staff, school resource officers and vigilant parents.”

“I appreciate the Attorney General Marshall acknowledging what we already know, that we have one of the safest schools in the state because of dedicated staff, school resource officers and vigilant parents,” said state Rep. Jamie Kiel. “It takes all of us to keep our schools and communities safe. Congratulations to Mrs. Warhurst and her team. I’m very appreciative of the work they have done for this recognition.”

Warhurst said the school takes its responsibility seriously.

“We realize parents give us their most prized and valuable possession every day – their children, which is why we put their child’s safety as our top priority.”

“Safety is so much more than just keeping our campus secure,” Warhurst continued. “It’s about helping each student reach their fullest potential, and that includes helping them emotionally and mentally. We are so thankful that our board understands the importance of this as well and fully supports having additional counselors on our campus.”

The five other schools to be chosen for the Attorney General’s Safe School Initiative Award were Orange Beach middle and high schools, UMS-Wright Preparatory School in Mobile, Ladonia Elementary School in Phenix City, Cullman City Primary School and Elvin Hill Elementary School in Columbiana.