J. Larry Newton Elementary credits 3-mill tax and added staff for jump to A grade

Tanya Harrelson, principal of J. Larry Newton Elementary School, told the Fairhope City Council on April 8 that the school used revenue from Fairhope’s 3-mill tax referendum to add staff and boost student support, and credited that investment with the school’s jump from an 87 (B) to a 92 (A) on the state report card.

Harrelson said the three-mill funds pay for 11 employees dedicated to direct instruction and student support, including a math coach, a literacy coach, a STEAM teacher, an intervention coordinator, a social worker, five instructional paraprofessionals and several part-time interventionists.

“The principals have it their discretion to request how they're going to spend this money, and for me, I just want to put that in people so that we can spend more time with students and start closing some of those gaps,” Harrelson said. “All students are able to get some intentional targeted instruction based on their individual needs.”

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