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Bottenfield opened in 1971 with 368 seventh graders, 12 classrooms, the office area and the lunchroom. Mr. James Fuller was the first principal. Carl R. Bottenfield was chosen as the name because Mr. Bottenfield lived in the western area and was a lifetime educator and served several times as President of the Jefferson County Board of Education. The 40 acre site was purchased here in 1967 for $40,000, which was raised by this community. Plans were to add a grade a year until grades 7-12 were here. Grade 8 was added in 1972. Additional classrooms and faculty members were also added. However, progress was slow. Nevertheless, in 1973, the PTA was organized with Ken Fike as president. Ten additional classrooms were put into use when construction was completed in January of 1973. The Lions Club contributed a magnificent trophy to honor the most outstanding student, which was Melissa Martin in 1973. This tradition has continued. In 1973, The Bengal, the first school yearbook was published. This has also continued. Also in 1973, Mr. Fuller moved to Gardendale High School and Mr. Haywood Adkinson came as the second principal at Bottenfield. Mr. Ronald Rhoades served as Assistant Principal. In the spring of 1974, Mr. Rhoades left and Mr. Charles Smith came as Assistant Principal. In the fall of 1974, the ninth grade was added to Bottenfield. Because construction was behind schedule, split or staggered sessions were held. The faculty and staff consisted of 35 teachers, a principal, an assistant principal, counselor, librarian, secretary and two aides. In 1975-76 the library, lockers, dressing rooms, band room and four classrooms were completed. School opened in September with 41 teachers, one aide and two secretaries, and 13 lunchroom workers. The school plant consisted of 32 classrooms, office suites, lunchroom, lounges, locker rooms, band room, library, and gymnasium. Art, choral and band were electives that year. In 1976 Bottenfield was accredited as a qualified junior high school by the state and the Southern Association of Schools. The enrollment in 1976-77 was 1020. Home Economics, music, and art classes were added. Construction was begun on new dressing rooms for boys and girls, and 3 new classrooms. Special education was incorporated. Upon completion of this construction, the Jefferson County Board of Education has invested in the physical plant and site of Bottenfield Junior High School the sum of $2,278,481.98. The enrollment is 1977-78 was 1060. The year started with new additions, which included an athletic dressing room, coaches’ office, wrestling room, lobby in the gym, choral room, art room and a Home Economics foods lab and clothing center. A non-spectator gymnasium was completed in the fall of 1978. From 1978 until 1988, the enrollment has fluctuated between 1000-1100 students. Since 1988, the enrollment has fluctuated between 750-900. Today, more than ever, the goals of Bottenfield Junior High School include a continuation of attaining the highest marks in a plan of excellent education for all the students entrusted to this school.
Bottenfield began a new page in history with the beginning of the
2001-2002 school year when it became a true middle school housing
grades 6-8. The final wing of the building was added and ready
for the new school year. Bottenfield opened the school year with
an enrollment of 998 and is now the only middle school in the zone.
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