Attorney General Steve Marshall presented the 2025 Safe School Award to Cullman City Primary School in Cullman, Alabama, on April 6. The award honors schools for their effective safety plans and highlights current trends in school safety.
The recognition is significant as it showcases efforts by Alabama schools to improve campus security and student well-being. “Out of more than 1,500 public and private schools in our state, it is an honor to recognize Cullman City School as one of only nine schools selected for an Alabama Safe School Award,” Marshall said. “For the second consecutive year, I am proud to honor their continued and prosperous pursuit to enhance public safety and foster strong, safe, and vibrant community.”
During the presentation, Marshall described several of the school’s initiatives. He said that Cullman City has established a dedicated Incident Command Center within its main office so administrators and first responders can coordinate effectively during emergencies. The campus also features secured perimeter gates with gate arms that open automatically by siren for emergency vehicles while maintaining controlled entry at other times. “These thoughtful, strategic safety measures reflect Cullman City Primary School’s unwavering commitment to protecting students, staff, and visitors every day,” Marshall said.
The selection process involved a comprehensive application reviewed by independent judges familiar with school safety issues. Schools were evaluated on preparation and training protocols; collaboration with emergency agencies; use of resource officers or security personnel; technology innovations; community participation; as well as law-related education programs.
Nine schools received the highest honor this year: ACCEL Academy (Mobile), Orange Beach Middle & High School (Orange Beach), Northside High School (Northport), Beauregard Elementary (Opelika), Allen Thornton Career Technical Center (Killen), Cullman City Primary (Cullman), Eastwood Elementary (Decatur), Elvin Hill Elementary (Columbiana), and Harriette W. Gwin Elementary (Hoover). Four additional schools were recognized for exceeding state requirements in student learning, mental health support, and safety standards.
The Alabama Attorney General office works statewide to enhance public safety through initiatives aimed at reducing violent crime and supporting victims according to its official website. It serves as the state’s chief law enforcement agency offering legal representation across all counties according to the same source. The office was honored with a Hometown Hero award from the Alabama League of Municipalities in 2020 for its work during the pandemic as reported on its website. Steve Marshall has served as Alabama’s forty-eighth Attorney General since February 2017 according to official records, guiding policy through high-profile cases such as upholding convictions under the Brody Act before the state Supreme Court according to official information.