Madison County Schools making progress on solving heating issues

We have five schools that have failing LG systems that are just horrible. Foley was obviously the worst. This is one portion of this whole project, million dollars’ worth of projects, to replace these heating systems.””

Lori Cobb, Madison County Schools Board Chair

Construction of geothermal wells to address heating issues at Madison County Schools is making progress.

There are only four wells left at Waco Elementary that need to be completed. The main bulk of the work is currently being done at Foley Middle School and Madison Southern and is expected to be completed in February. Afterward, drilling will begin at White Hall Elementary.

Board Chair Lori Cobb said that this project would help to address the heating problems that some Madison County schools are facing.   

“We have five schools that have failing LG systems that are just horrible,” Cobb said. “Foley was obviously the worst. This is one portion of this whole project, million dollars’ worth of projects, to replace these heating systems.”

But Cobb clarified that there has never been a situation where a school was without heating despite rumors that have circulated online. She said that the geothermal wells should help to address heating problems moving forward.

Geothermal systems are being used across the country in school districts as they are more environmentally friendly and efficient at heating and cooling. While they require a higher initial cost to implement due to the drilling, they are more cost friendly in the long-run as they do not rely on gas, which has variable prices, or burning fuels, which results in more energy loss.

In other news:

• Lori Cobb was elected to serve as Madison County Board of Education’s chair and Brandon Rutherford was elected to serve as vice chair for 2026.
• The 2025 audit report didn’t show any area of concern.
• Mike’s Kids Education Foundation awarded $500 grants to 24 teachers across the district to implement creative classroom programs that enhance literacy.

The Madison County Board of Education budget meeting will take place on Jan. 22 at 6 p.m.