RCS school board recognizes RHS musical theatre student for Trumbauer
Dr. Heath Grimes, Russellville City Schools superintendent, and Kim Clonts, RCS Board of Education president, congratulate RHS junior Elijah Racz for his performance, joined by Patrice Smith, RHS musical theatre teacher.
News, Russellville, Z - News Main, Z - TOP HOME
 By  María Camp Published 
9:30 am Tuesday, December 20, 2022

RCS school board recognizes RHS musical theatre student for Trumbauer

Elijah Racz, a junior at Russellville High School, received recognition during the Dec. 16 meeting of the Russellville City Schools Board of Education meeting. Racz placed first in the comedic solo musical theatre category at the State Trumbauer Festival.

Racz, along with a group of other students from the musical theatre department, led by RHS musical theatre teacher Patrice Smith and RMS/RHS choral director Aaron Freeman, performed for the board, singing and playing musical instruments. Songs included “Carol of the Bells,” “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “Feliz Navidad,” “Deck the Halls,” “Up On The Housetop,” “Jingle Bells” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

“We are incredibly proud of Elijah, as we are all of our students,” said Smith. “We have two major state competitions, and this is the first. Elijah competed against the top 30 comedic soloists in the state in his category.

“To win at state is a huge honor,” she added, noting three judges participated in his scoring, with Racz receiving a perfect score of 50 from one and a 49 from the other two.

“He is a hopeful professional performer,” explained Smith, “and we’re very thankful for the dedication he puts forth for our program. We’re excited to see where else he can go.”

In other business, the board approved the following expenses for the month:

  • Peer Helpers program renewal
  • Contractor services for RHS Project Phase I
  • Monthly bond payment to the City of Russellville
  • Monthly payment for SROs to the City of Russellville
  • Annual payment on Jumbotron loan
  • NextGen renewal (financial/payroll program)
  • Door Control security system for RMS

Payroll for the month was $2,193,803.

The board also approved the purchase of nine 72-passenger Type C gasoline-powered school buses, to be purchased without a bid process, through the purchasing cooperative “Sourcewell” for the price of $117,283.09.

Also on Franklin County Times
Rural hospitals face challenges: New state tax credit could help
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Franklin County’s two hospitals face the same financial pressures confronting rural health care across Alabama even as they remain esse...
Phil Campbell gets ‘clean opinion’ on audit
Main, News, Phil Campbell, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — Certified public accountant Don Wallace told town council members on Jan. 20 there were no problems with this year’s audit. “This is w...
MLK’s legacy: Blueprint we must follow
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Rev. Bennie “B.J.” Bonner stood before an audience gathered Jan. 19 for the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration March and described ho...
Elementary students begin Super Citizen program
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
Second and third graders from West Elementary and Russellville Elementary began Liberty Learning Foundation’s Super Citizen program during an event ki...
Book Lovers Study Club explores tea’s role in history
Columnists, News, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
January 28, 2026
Our Book Lovers Study Club’s January meeting highlighted both the Boston Tea Party boycott of English tea and the traditions of afternoon tea. One of ...
Moving from excuses to action in 1 year
Columnists, Opinion
January 28, 2026
In just 12 months, the Trump administration has delivered real results that Americans can see in their daily lives by restoring law and order at our b...
Higgins hired as RHS football coach
High School Sports, Russellville Golden Tigers, Sports
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Darrell Higgins has been hired as the new head football coach at Russellville High School. His hiring was announced Saturday following ...
Seal retires from CB&S after 31 years
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Following a 31-year career at CB&S Bank, Beverly Seal is now retired and looking forward to what comes next. While she’s still explorin...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *