Student talks were highlighted at the annual Morgan County State of the Schools Breakfast at Burningtree County Club in Decatur Tuesday morning.

They followed introductory remarks Superintendent Bill Hopkins made to a large crowd of elected officials, educators and business leaders.

“”We implemented a “Leaders in Me” program at all of our schools last school year,” Hopkins pointed out. “What better way for you to find out what is going on in our schools than to let our students tell you.”

Speaking individually, the students gave reports on topics ranging from transportation to technology and child nutrition. Each spoke distinctly, rattling off statistics and explaining how the school system’s wide range of services helps prepare students for the adult world.

One student told how the E-Prep Program helped him improve his ACT score and qualify for admission at the University of Alabama. Another credited federal funds with helping she and 282 other Hispanic students in their quest to become proficient in the use of the English language. And still another gave credit to the Career Prep program at Brewer for helping herd a head start on a career in cosmetology.

“What you have seen and heard from these students is what education is all about,” said Hopkins as he summed up the program. “We now have a good school system but that’s not good enough for me. My goal is for us to have a great school system.”

As a footnote he added that the school system would have a two-month reserve at the end of this school year, a big improvement over two years ago when it had to borrow money to the meet the payroll.

The 15 students who had speaking parts on the program are listed as follows:

Maureen Clark, Priceville Junior High, Transportation Department; Mitchell Mote, Priceville High, Child Nutrition Program; Reed Sowder, Brewer High, Instructional Support and Special Programs; Jordan Ratliff, Brewer High, K-12 Curriculum; Eric Monk Priceville High, E-Prep; Megan Cantebury and Matthew Dunn, Brewer High, Career Tech Department;

Adreona Caudle, Brewer High and Katie Thompson, Falkville High, Special Education Department; Monica Gonzalez, Brewer High, Federal Programs; Julianna Smith, Priceville High, Human Resource Department/Morgan Co. Learning Center; Zoey Garnett, Eva School, Technology; Tijuanna Davis, West Morgan High and Brewer Cosmetology Program, Finance Department; Cara Jewellson, Danville Middle, Nursing and Health Program; and Shelby Casey, West Morgan Elementary, Safety.

The breakfast was hosted by the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce. Sponsors were 3M, scent, Decatur Morgan Hospital, Enersolv and Pepsi Bottling Co.