Taiisha Walton, Dothan City School Board, District 3

If you were unable to attend the board meeting this week and would like to see the discussion regarding the censure, here is the YouTube link. You can fast forward to timestamp 16:10.

Public comments regarding the censure were later in the meeting at 1:26:20

DCS Board Meeting - 08/18/2026 Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

I encourage everyone to come out to tomorrow’s Dothan City Schools Board meeting. There is a motion to censure my fellow board member, Mrs. Brenda Guilford.

If you’ve heard anything about my short tenure on this Board, you know I am a strong advocate for our children and our educators. But I am equally committed to standing against injustice toward anyone, especially when I believe someone is not being treated fairly or afforded a fair process.

I definitely have something to say tomorrow. And as I’ve said before on this Board, I will not be silenced.

📍 1665 Honeysuckle Road
⏰ Tuesday, August 18th at 5:30 PM

I hope to see you there.

I’m truly grateful for this opportunity to show our appreciation to our educators. Special thanks to Chefkym's! 🙏🏽❤️

Welcome Dr. Anderson!

Welcome Dr. Washington!

Welcome Mrs. Sewell!

As discussions continue regarding the future of PASS Academy, I encourage everyone to make your voice heard. Your feedback matters, and now is the time to share your thoughts on the next steps for this important program.

Please take a few moments to complete the survey and let your perspective be heard.

Carver MST Expansion Clarification on Bid Process

I haven’t been keeping up with social media since last night’s meeting or this morning, so this post is not in response to anything I’ve seen online. However, I did receive a question this morning asking why the proposed Carver MST expansion was not bid out to more than one contractor.

I thought it might be helpful to explain how this process works.

The proposed Carver MST expansion has not been bid out. No general contractor has been selected, and no construction bids have been received.

The Board hired SS&L Architects to develop the design, prepare the construction documents, and provide an architect’s estimate based on projected cost per square foot, the proposed building materials, engineering requirements, and current construction market conditions.

An architect’s estimate is not the same as a construction bid. It is simply an estimate used to help the Board understand the anticipated cost of a project.

If the project had moved forward, the architect would have prepared the bid package, and the district would then have publicly solicited bids from qualified general contractors. Those contractors would submit competitive bids based on the project’s final plans and specifications, and the Board would have reviewed those bids before awarding a construction contract.

In other words, the bidding process comes after the design phase, not before.

I also think it is important to understand that SS&L Architects was not new to Dothan City Schools. The firm had previously been approved by the Alabama State Department of Education for use by the district, and Dothan City Schools had successfully worked with them on prior projects. Their responsibility on this project was to prepare the design and provide an estimated construction cost. The actual construction cost would only be known after qualified contractors submitted competitive bids.

I hope this helps clarify the process for anyone who had the same question. My goal is always to provide accurate information so our community can stay informed.

Tonight, the Board voted 3–2 not to move forward with expanding Carver School for Mathematics, Science, and Technology to include 7th and 8th grades.

While I am disappointed by the outcome, I remain grateful to the many parents, educators, alumni, and community members who reached out to share their perspectives. Your voices mattered, and I was proud to represent the many families who have consistently expressed a desire for Carver MST to continue through the middle school years. This wasn’t a conversation that started last week. These are the same sentiments I’ve been hearing for years from parents who want additional high-quality public school choices within Dothan City Schools.

Whether you agreed or disagreed with the proposal, thank you to everyone who took the time to stay informed, attend meetings, submit comments, and engage respectfully in the discussion. An informed and engaged community makes our district stronger.

Throughout this process, I also wanted to address several common misconceptions.

• Supporting this expansion was never about taking something away from our current middle school or criticizing any other school in our district. We have outstanding educators across Dothan City Schools who work tirelessly every day for our students.

• Carver MST is not a school that serves only one group of students. It serves a diverse student population and has long provided opportunities for students from across our community.

• The proposal was about expanding educational opportunities and retaining families who often leave the district after 6th grade because they are seeking additional options.

If you’d like to hear the discussion for yourself, I encourage you to watch the meeting beginning at the 37:51 timestamp. Joe Jolly & Co., the district’s underwriting firm, also provides an overview of the proposed financing process during the discussion.

https://www.youtube.com/live/XdeP1UW1bvg?is=qPWGu7i12niEMdXb

Although tonight’s vote did not go the way I had hoped, my commitment remains the same. I will continue advocating for opportunities that strengthen Dothan City Schools, provide families with meaningful choices, and keep students at the center of every decision.

Thank you again to everyone who remained engaged throughout this process.

DCS Special Called Board Meeting - 07/28/2026 Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Reminder about CMST expansion vote today at 5:30p at 1665 Honeysuckle Road. Please make plans to attend or stream on YouTube at https://youtube.com/?si=vde0cqgs3VVls7cF

As we prepare to vote on Tuesday, July 28, I encourage our community to learn more about the proposed expansion of The Carver School for Mathematics, Science, and Technology to include 7th and 8th grades and to share your thoughts with the Board of Education.

One of the realities we face in Dothan City Schools is that many students leave the district after 6th grade. Whether families choose private schools, charter schools, county schools, or homeschooling, we know we are competing to retain students. Expanding the outstanding educational opportunities already available at Carver MST is one way to help keep more families invested in DCS.

Carver MST is not just another successful school. In 2024, it earned the distinction of being a National Blue Ribbon School, an honor held by only about 1% of schools nationwide. Schools receiving this recognition have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement and sustained excellence, meeting rigorous standards established by the U.S. Department of Education. That is something our entire community should celebrate.

At the same time, I also want to be clear that supporting this proposal does not diminish the incredible work happening at our current middle school. We have outstanding educators there who pour into our students every single day. Despite challenges and, at times, an unfair public perception, they continue to produce meaningful academic growth and positive outcomes that often don’t receive the recognition they deserve. They deserve our appreciation and support as well.

I appreciate Dr. Askew for bringing this recommendation forward as part of a broader effort to strengthen and expand the educational choices available within Dothan City Schools. As a board member, I welcome hearing from our community before Tuesday’s vote.

A presentation outlining this proposal was shared during the June 29 Board of Education meeting. If you’d like to learn more before sharing your thoughts, I encourage you to watch that presentation on the Dothan City Schools YouTube channel using the link below (Start at 30:56 mark).

If you support the proposal, have questions, or have concerns, now is the time to make your voice heard. Thoughtful community input helps us make the best decisions for the students and families we serve.

Our goal should always be the same: providing exceptional educational opportunities and ensuring Dothan City Schools remains a district where families choose to stay and thrive.

📺 June 29 Board Meeting Presentation:
https://www.youtube.com/live/B_Yznh-JLaA?is=iyGeWOZX4TMXtQ1w