A.C.E.S. Alternative School opens in former Restore building, craft academy still in development

By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

ALABASTER – After the completion of summer renovations, the new A.C.E.S. Alternative School is fully operational in the former Restore building in Alabaster and is serving students after the start of the new school year.

“Our A.C.E.S. program helps accelerate and catch up our kids who are behind, and they do a fabulous job here of making that happen in partnership with our families,” Alabaster City Schools Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers said. “Our alternative piece is part of our structure of helping kids stay in school and stay engaged and they do an amazing job with that as well.”

Alabaster City Schools’ A.C.E.S. Alternative School is now located in the left wing of the former Restore building on Highway 119 in Alabaster which was previously acquired by the school system for $1.96 million.

“This is just the first phase of what we’re doing to the Restore building,” Vickers said. “This was completed so we could occupy our A.C.E.S. and our alternative program which was reassigned here.”

The space for the alternative school is comprised of roughly 8,000 square feet and offers a large modular meeting space, training classrooms and office space. The entrance to the A.C.E.S. Alternative School was changed from a set of double doors to a newer storefront style entrance. Over the course of the summer the school system worked to have the entire space that would house the alternative program renovated and completed in time for the start of the fall semester on Aug. 8.

At-Risk Programs Administrator Angela McKnight conducts operations at the A.C.E.S. Alternative School and works alongside At-Risk Counselor Brookie Harbison.

“Mrs. McKnight has been with us for a while in this role, and we appreciate her work and her efforts too,” Vickers said.

The second phase of work on the former Restore building involves the other side of the facility which is comprised of approximately 42,000 square feet of space and will be utilized for the school system’s ACS Champions Craft Academy. The academy is planned to serve as a new, state-of-the-art workforce development facility that will provide in-demand, lucrative career pathways for students in Alabaster City Schools.

Currently, the school system transports skilled trades students to Birmingham’s Academy for Craft Training which is a 45 minute one-way bus ride. The future craft academy will negate the need for this travel and shorten the trips to roughly seven minutes.

The ACS Champions Craft Academy will be headed by Transition Specialist Jayden Kidd and is planned to open fall 2025.

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