HANCEVILLE, Ala. – On Thursday, July 16, the Cullman County Board of Education officially broke ground on the Cullman County STEM Academy. The system hopes the project will be complete and ready for students in August 2028. It will be available for both county and city schools students.
Cullman County Schools Superintendent Dr. Shane Barnette said, “This is the career center for Cullman County and City Schools. Today is a ceremony to acknowledge that we’re getting started.”
He added, “We’re expected to occupy the building in July of 2028. We’re hoping to be moved in and ready for students in August of that year.”
Barnette said the STEM Academy is not just great for students, it’s also great for the entire community. “We’re going to prepare young people to learn a skill that they can use for the rest of their lives to provide for their families.” He continued, “At the same time, they will be meeting a need in the community to help our industries fill their jobs.”
He thanked many in attendance for supporting the project and helping make the Cullman County STEM Academy a reality.
Singling out Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, he explained the two discussed the project roughly 10 years ago when Barnette traveled with CCBOE members to the Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy, part of Tuscaloosa City Schools. He said it was the inspiration for the Cullman County STEM Academy.
Barnette said he took a picture of it and a plot of land listed for sale by the Apel family. That plot of land, located along U.S. Highway 31 just south of Cullman-Jefferson Gas, is the site of the future STEM Academy.
He said he put the two images together and presented it to John Apel, stating, “This is how we want to honor your family. We want to train workers to go into the same industry that your family has been doing in Cullman County for generations.”
Apel is a native of Cullman and president of Apel Machine & Supply Company.
“We’re going to make them proud!” Barnette emphasized.
This Academy is an important part in aiding future workforce from the Cullman County Schools and City Schools, but Barnette made a point to thank the central office workers, maintenance staff and currently faculty and staff at the Cullman Area Technology Academy for their continuous work towards a brighter future.
Barnette said the new Academy building will have room for expansion.
“We have a plan for phase two already,” he said.
According to Cullman County Schools, the Cullman County STEM Academy was made possible in part because of an $18 million grant, which is the largest grant in the history of Cullman County Schools.
Sen. Gudger was on-hand for the groundbreaking, along with other members of Cullman County’s legislative delegation, John Apel and Cheri Dalgleish (representing the Apel family), CCBOE board members, a member of the Alabama State Board of Education and more.
Check out a video of the ceremony at www.facebook.com/ccboeal.
