By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – While members of the Alabaster Board of Education typically are honoring others for their contributions to the city’s school system, students and leaders from Alabaster schools flipped the script during a Jan. 14 meeting.

During the meeting, which came during School Board Appreciation Month, representatives from the city’s schools thanked School Board members for their support, made donations to the city’s Education Foundation in the board members’ honor and presented them with everything from framed aerial photos of Warrior Stadium to notifications of trees planted in their honor on the school campuses.

“This group is outstanding in the work and leadership they provide. It is a dynamic board, and they provide tremendous leadership in this school system,” said Alabaster School Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers. “I want to thank you for what you have done for our children.

“As someone who has been working in education for almost 30 years, I can say that a school system is only as good as its five board members,” Vickers added. “This board exemplifies excellence.”

Principals from each of the city’s six schools – some of who brought students with them – took turns thanking the BOE members for their service, and said their leadership has made a difference in the city’s education system over the past several years.

Members of the school board are Adam Moseley, Derek Henderson, Linda Church, Dr. John Myrick and Jamia Alexander-Williams.

“A lot of people don’t realize all the time and effort you guys put in,” said Thompson Intermediate School Principal Brent Byars. “The goal is for us to be the best school system in the state, and to do that you’ve got to have a great board. We have that here in Alabaster.”

Vickers presented all of the board members with certificates in their honor, and the board received plenty of applause from the dozens of attendees at the meeting.

“It’s remarkable how much we get from you guys. We can only go as far as the school board will allow, and you have taken the ceiling off of what we are capable of,” said Thompson High School Principal Dr. Wesley Hester. “Thank you so much for all you’ve done.”