By mid-August two Dallas County school system principals will have at least part of their wish list fulfilled due to a major contribution from the Valley Grande City Council.

During a special-called work session on Friday, the Valley Grande city council invited representatives of the Dallas County school system, along with Valley Grande Elementary School principal Calvin Vance and William R. Martin Middle School principal Finis Sanders, to discuss what the two schools needed and what the city could do to meet those needs.

“The reason this council met today is because of these two schools in our area,” said Valley Grande Mayor Herb Story. “We are proud of our schools and so are our parents and grandparents. As long was we have the funds, we are going to be giving it to these schools.”

Story said the city had no current debts and only one employee, so the money collected from the Alabama Power and Alabama Gas Company franchise taxes needed to be spent.

The two principals were asked to bring a wish list of items they needed or projects that should be fulfilled. Among the items included a zero-turn lawn mower, a backstop and fence for the baseball field, a fresh coat of paint, and a cover for the Martin Middle gymnasium.

Though the cost of all these items was estimated at around $40,000, the council decided they could meet some, if not all, of these needs.

“I think all of these things are very doable,” Story said. “If the council will vote for it by our next meeting on Aug. 16, I think we can do all of this.”

Throughout the hour-long work session, the council and Dallas County School System representatives discussed the bidding laws and prices of various items selected by the schools.

Councilwoman Pasty Moore told the principals to continue giving the council “complete wish lists” throughout the year to see if the council could help the schools even further.

“If we can’t get everything done this time, come to our council meetings and talk with us,” Moore said. “We can keep giving to the schools as the money comes in.”

Dallas County School Board member Mark Story said the board always tries to make sure the schools are provided for what they need, but lack of funds is a major hindrance.

“We milk our budget for everything we can get,” Story said. “We greatly appreciate what this council is doing. This really means a lot.”

Sanders and Vance also had many thanks for the council, and were excited about the prospect of having a new avenue for funding.

“I really appreciate this and I know our parents do, too,” Vance said. “I know I couldn’t have made it without the parents’ backing.”

The principals were asked to submit a former list of items and prices to the council, and they should expect to hear whether the council approved by the Aug. 16 Valley Grande council meeting.