By Robert Hudson

The Selma Times-Journal

Construction workers work on the new Selma High School nearly everyday, but local businesses are also helping to build the new school—brick by brick.

Henry Brick is one local company contributing to the building of the new high school.

The company is providing all the bricks necessary for building the school.

“There are right at 600,000 bricks being used,” said Jim Cothran, vice president of sales and development for Henry Brick. “We were able to sell brick at a lower price to the school, and I was glad to see that Selma High was a leader in the state at using Alabama manufacturers for their products. In a tough economy, it’s nice to see the school system … using state resources as opposed to going out of state.”

Selma City Schools coordinator of auxiliary services Ray Mathiews said the new Selma High School project benefits the entire community.

“It’s very important that the local community benefits from this project,” Mathiews said. “There are many businesses throughout the city and region that are benefiting from this project. Henry Brick is probably the most visible because they have all the brick on the project. There are many, many others. We have a local concrete company, Cosby-Carmichael, providing all the concrete.”

Mathiews also said the project is indirectly having a positive impact on the community, due to some 150 construction workers using local restaurants, gas stations and hotels.

“This is the type of project that benefits the whole community,” Mathiews said. “There’s a lot of things that are impacting the community. It might not be directly, but indirectly it’s having a positive impact.”

The new high school will take up 172,000 square feet and, along with the 600,000 bricks, will be composed of 20,000 to 30,000 yards of concrete.