State Sen. Greg Albritton, District 22, presented a check to Superintendent Eddie Tyler and the Baldwin County Board of Education at the central office in Loxley.

According to Tyler, Elberta, Robertsdale and Baldwin County high schools will receive $18,000 each. The bulk of the funds will go to the Baldwin Preparatory Academy, which will receive approximately $425,000. The academy is currently still being constructed, and Tyler said it is currently on track to be completed by fall 2024.

Cliff McCollum, director of constituent services at the Baldwin County Legislative Delegation, said the funds came from an annual community service grant set up by the state statute. According to McCollum, each legislator receives a certain amount based on seniority and awards the funds to a school or organization of their choosing in their district that provides for the community.

"His [Albritton's] donation was just shy of $500,000," McCollum said. "Some legislators like to do theirs at the beginning when they receive it, and they find out how much is appropriated at the end of session every year once the budgets have settled out around the end of May or early June."

McCollum said the funds will go toward "general education purposes," which allows the schools to be more flexible with the donation.

"They [the school system] can use the money as needed," McCollum said. "The principals know what their kids need. It could be used to address any immediate needs or used as a rainy day fund."

McCollum said that there was a significant increase this year given to the grant program, which in turn provides the legislators with the opportunity to provide more for their county.

"I think this is a substantial amount of cash that we have managed to get for Baldwin County," Albritton said. "Everything that is going on here, I appreciate everyone here. This is an unusual amount. Every year is large, but the $425,000 [for Baldwin Preparatory Academy] is just special."

"This is a great thing, it means the education trust fund is doing well," McCollum said. "I'm proud of Albritton for giving such a large allocation to the prep academy. As usual, Baldwin County is at the forefront of innovation and education in terms of meeting kids where they are at and addressing their needs for the future."