There will be a new principal at Tallassee High School next school year.
Current principal Drew Glass is not being retained after his contract expires this summer. The decision was finalized after a Tallassee City Schools Board of Education meeting decision Tuesday night.
“It’s time to move in a different direction,” Tallassee City Schools superintendent Dr. Brock Nolin said.
Glass declined to speak on the matter but did make a post on Facebook announcing he was not returning to Tallassee High School as principal.
“Due to circumstances out of my control, I will not be back at Tallassee High School next year,” Glass said in the post. “I have enjoyed my time here. I love my faculty, staff and students. I hope they all know that I genuinely care for them and have always had their best interest at heart. I have built some great relationships here along the way. Let’s finish this year strong!”
Glass is one of three principals in the Tallassee school system. Contracts for Tallassee Elementary School principal Shanikka Beacher and Southside Middle School principal Brittany Spencer were renewed at the recommendation of Nolin. Glass’ contract was not renewed at the recommendation of Nolin.
In Alabama, school board members are allowed to consider and vote on only recommendations made by the system's superintendent.
Boardmembers present at Tuesday’s meeting were Don Bryant, Melanie Goodman, Ruthanne McCaig, Sonja Moore and April Warren. Boardmembers Dr. Steve Burak and Heather Hawkins were absent from the meeting.
Glass came to Tallassee High School as principal in July 2021, after working as an assistant principal at Wetumpka High School. At the time the majority of the classes were being held in mobile classrooms as the new Tallassee High School was under construction. Like schools across the state, everyone was trying to figure out the new ways to teach in the post COVID-19 pandemic area.
According to the Alabama State Department of Education report cards, Tallassee High School had 539 students in the 2018-19 school year with an overall score of 75. The graduation rate was 89.93 and chronic absenteeism was 15.43.
No report cards were issued for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years due to the pandemic.
For the 2021-22 school year, Tallassee High School had 520 students with an overall score of 75. The graduation rate was 92.86 and chronic absenteeism was 26.12.
For the 2022-23 school year, the school had 492 students with an overall score of 65. The graduation rate was 80.85 and chronic absenteeism was 22.59.
For the most recent reporting period for the school year 2023-24, the school had 480 students with an overall score of 74. The graduation rate was 84.92 and chronic absenteeism dropped to 9.70.
It will be late 2025 before the report card for the school year 2024-25 will be released by the state department.