Goodbye Portables!

School portables are becoming a thing of the past in Baldwin County. Last year, there were 212 portables dotting school campuses across the county. This year...there are only 135. New school construction, including four new campuses and a new Fine Arts wing at Fairhope High School are helping reduce portable usage.

"I'm so excited," says Fairhope High School teacher Ashleigh Russell. "I've been in a portable for the past two years and it's nice to get into the main building. The portable was dirty, dark and dingy and not a very good environment to teach in. I think real classrooms are more condusive to learning. I'm looking forward to the school year and I know the students will be excited."

"The teachers that have been in portables and are finally getting into the main building are thrilled," says Fairhope High principal Beverly Thomas. "They tell me it's like they've died and gone to Heaven!"

All eleven portables at Fairhope High School have been removed thanks to the new, state-of-the-art Fine Arts wing that will open Monday when students return to campus. Four new schools will also open Monday: Spanish Fort Middle, Fairhope Middle, Robertsdale Elementary and W.J. Carroll.